HC 178 - Northern Ireland: Banking on Recovery? - HC 178 PDF Download

Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 021508408X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 49

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Book Description
From the reckless high-risk attitude of many banks pre-financial crisis, the pendulum appears to have swung too far back in the opposite direction. Over the past year, the Northern Ireland economy has shown very welcome signs of recovery, with many new jobs recently being announced and the banks themselves showing a return to profitability. The banks need to build on this. It is regrettable that banks such as FTB and Danske, have chosen not to participate in HM Government's Funding for Lending Scheme, thereby potentially denying Northern Ireland further capacity for growth. The banks have assured us they are "open for business": it is essential that they now put their money where their mouth is to help small businesses play their part in Northern Ireland's economic recovery. Customer service and IT services need to improve considerably for banks themselves to really play their part

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780215085931
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 9

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Book Description
Government response to HCP 178, session 2014-15 (ISBN 9780215084088), published 16.03.2015

Author: Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Audit Office
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0102939659
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Book Description
This report examines major weaknesses in the part played by the former Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU) in the establishment and oversight of the Emerging Business Trust (EBT). The ETB was created in 1996 with funds of £3 million provided by the International Fund for Ireland and £0.75 million by LEDU, mainly administering a loan fund. In 2000 EBT also established a venture fund, with a total funding of £0.6 million. EBT voluntarily ceased to carry on business in April 2005, and a liquidator was appointed to wind up the affairs of both the loan and venture funds. Invest Northern Ireland (a development agency which assumed the responsibilities of LEDU in 2002) carried out an investigation, which identified a long list of failings: conflicts of interest, especially involving a LEDU board member who was also a partner in MTF Chartered Accountants who were the managing agents of both funds; LEDU's failure to follow its own procedures; normal public sector rules on competitive tendering were not followed; a high level of bad debt (£1.1 million was written off); insufficient monitoring by LEDU. NIAO finds that many of these failings show non-observance of the Public Accounts Committee's recommendations in its report "The proper conduct of public business" (HC 154, 8th report session 1993-94). The poor standards of administration fell far below the normal standards operating elsewhere in the Northern Ireland public sector. Invest Northern Ireland and the Department have undertaken a number of actions and current corporate governance arrangements are very different. NIAO believes there are lessons of relevance here to the wider public sector.

Author:
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0102939632
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 72

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Book Description
This report by the Northern Ireland Audit Office examines the effectiveness of Insolvency Service arrangements for administering the legislation on the disqualification of company directors of insolvent companies on the grounds of unfit conduct (including negligence, incompetence or lack of commercial integrity). Conclusions of the report include that there is scope for the Insolvency Service to improve: the performance management of practitioners (both Official Receiver staff and insolvency practitioners) by actively monitoring the number of submissions not filed on time and enforcing targets; the monitoring framework to ensure evidence of unfit conduct is assessed in a consistent manner; and communication arrangements with company directors and dissemination of key information, including drawing up a joint action plan with other parts of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Author: Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Audit Office
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780102939262
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 52

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Book Description
This NIAO report examines the delivery of the Electronic Libraries for Northern Ireland (ELFNI) IT system through a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project. The ELFNI system is intended to improve access to and quality of public library services in Northern Ireland, by ensuring all public libraries have equal access to automated facilities and the internet and access for the general public to e-Government services. The contract is worth £36m and covers a ten-year period which commenced in May 2002. The report does not consider the effectiveness of the ELFNI project but focuses on the methodology used by the project team to secure the best possible deal; the sustainability of the deal over the contract life; and whether issues of future technological changes and income generation have been sufficiently addressed. Overall, the report finds that the procedures leading to the award and implementation of the ELFNI contract were well handled, but whether it will provide value for money to the taxpayer will only become apparent in the longer term.

Author: Sam Bourton
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1040033822
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 278

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Book Description
This book provides a critical and contemporary evaluation of the laws and enforcement policies pertaining to tax evasion in the United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US). Since the inception of taxes, revenue collection authorities around the world have attempted to address the seemingly perennial problem of individuals evading their tax liabilities. The financial crisis has shone a new light on the issue with an increased interest in using the criminal justice system as a means of addressing it in the UK. In sharp contrast to the UK, the US has a strong record of prosecuting crimes of tax evasion, whether committed by individuals or professional corporate facilitators. Providing an evaluation of the UK’s tax evasion laws and enforcement policy, through a comparative approach, this work highlights insights provided by the US experience. In so doing, the book explores the interconnections between tax evasion and money laundering, identifying best practices, omissions, and areas for reform. The work will be a valuable resource for researchers, academics, and policy-makers working in the areas of financial crime, financial law, accountancy and criminal justice.

Author: Steven Elliott KC
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782253513
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 366

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Book Description
Since the decision of the House of Lords in Woolwich Equitable Building Society v Inland Revenue Commissioners [1993] AC 70, the law governing claims for restitution of overpaid tax has experienced rapid and profound evolution. This has been so not only in England, but also elsewhere in the common law world as well as on the European plane. The essays in this collection consider the new landscape, and explore from various doctrinal and national perspectives the issues that have confronted, and continue to confront, the courts.

Author: Lord Saville of Newdigate
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781539823360
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 494

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Book Description
On 29th January 1998 the House of Commons resolved that it was expedient that a tribunal be established for inquiring into a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely "the events on Sunday, 30 January 1972 which led to loss of life in connection with the procession in Londonderry on that day, taking account of any new information relevant to events on that day." On 2nd February 1998 the House of Lords also passed this resolution. With the exception of the last 12 words, these terms of reference are virtually identical to those for a previous Inquiry held by Lord Widgery (then the Lord Chief Justice) in 1972. Both inquiries were conducted under the provisions of the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921. In his statement to the House of Commons on 29th January 1998 the Prime Minister (The Rt Hon Tony Blair MP) said that the timescale within which Lord Widgery produced his report meant that he was not able to consider all the evidence that might have been available. He added that since that report much new material had come to light about the events of the day. In those circumstances, he announced: "We believe that the weight of material now available is such that the events require re-examination. We believe that the only course that will lead to public confidence in the results of any further investigation is to set up a full-scale judicial inquiry into Bloody Sunday." The Prime Minister made clear that the Inquiry should be allowed the time necessary to cover thoroughly and completely all the evidence now available. The collection, analysis, hearing and consideration of this evidence (which is voluminous) have necessarily required a substantial period of time. The Tribunal originally consisted of The Rt Hon the Lord Saville of Newdigate, a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, The Hon William Hoyt OC, formerly the Chief Justice of New Brunswick, Canada, and The Rt Hon Sir Edward Somers, formerly a member of the New Zealand Court of Appeal. Before the Tribunal began hearing oral evidence, Sir Edward Somers retired through ill health. The Hon John Toohey AC, formerly a Justice of the High Court of Australia, took his place. Lord Saville acted throughout as the Chairman of the Inquiry.

Author: Stephane Hallegatte
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 1464814317
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 316

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Book Description
Infrastructure—electricity, telecommunications, roads, water, and sanitation—are central to people’s lives. Without it, they cannot make a living, stay healthy, and maintain a good quality of life. Access to basic infrastructure is also a key driver of economic development. This report lays out a framework for understanding infrastructure resilience - the ability of infrastructure systems to function and meet users’ needs during and after a natural hazard. It focuses on four infrastructure systems that are essential to economic activity and people’s well-being: power systems, including the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity; water and sanitation—especially water utilities; transport systems—multiple modes such as road, rail, waterway, and airports, and multiple scales, including urban transit and rural access; and telecommunications, including telephone and Internet connections.

Author: Clive Walker
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199561176
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 629

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Book Description
Terrorism law and legal practice has been politically and socially controversial to a degree beyond almost any other legal issue during the past few years, and this analytical text contains extensive analysis of these controversies. Terrorism and the Law offers a thoughtful and up-to-date discussion of all the key materials on terrorism law. It provides comprehensive coverage of all the major domestic, European, and international laws, and their impact on the UK. It also contains an extensive examination of the implementation of these terrorism laws, and of the practical issues they raise. The book contains three Parts. Part I focuses on meanings of 'terrorism' in law and political science. It provides the reader with an understanding of the phenomenon and the legal concept, including its statutory definitions, which is essential to the book's assessment of the strategies and tactics adopted in the codes of laws. It also covers normative constraints, such as human rights. Part II focuses on the United Kingdom law. It provides extensive coverage of the major UK terrorism legislation, such as: the Terrorism Act 2000; the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005; the Terrorism Act 2006; the Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Act 2006; the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007; and the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008. It also examines the key laws and rules relating to terrorism policing and legal processes. It discusses the meaning of these legislative materials, as well as their implementation, and includes reference to case law and practice statements from the police and courts. Part III reflects the impact of European, international and transnational laws and practices, covering international transnational cooperation and extradition, key European Union law measures against terrorism, other international law measures against terrorist activities, and international human rights and terrorism.