The Equality and Human Rights Commission – Wales Commissioner recruitment campaign opened on 9 May and the closing date will be extended to 19 June at 11pm. We expect sifting to take place in July 2019, with interviews following on in August 2019. The announcement of the new Wales Commissioner should take place in September 2019.

The Wales Commissioner chairs the statutory Wales Committee and its main duties include advising the Commission about the exercise of its powers in so far as they affect Wales. The Committee also has delegated powers under the Equality Act 2006 in respect of specific powers of the EHRC in Wales, including those to provide information, advice and guidance and conduct research in Wales, and to advise the devolved Government for Wales about the effect of legislation affecting Wales. In addition, the Wales Committee is responsible for ensuring the Board is properly advised in the exercise of its other functions in Wales.

For further information please visit the Public Appointments website

2018 to 2019 Full-time Language Training (Albanian) 2015 to 2018 FCO, Programme Director/Head MENA Central Operations Department, Middle East North Africa Directorate 2014 to 2015 Algiers, Deputy Head of Mission 2014 FCO, Deputy Head, Conflict Department 2013 to 2014 FCO, Head Syria Team, Stabilisation Unit 2012 to 2013 FCO, Deputy Head, Mediterranean Department, Europe Directorate 2010 to 2012 Baghdad, Political Counsellor 2009 to 2010 Secondment to DFID, Head Afghan Team, Stabilisation Unit 2007 to 2009 FCO, Programme Manager, Human Rights and Strategic Democracy Programme Fund 2004 to 2006 Cairo, Regional Expert – Engaging with the Arab World 2000 to 2003 Riyadh, First Secretary – Economic and Press/Public Affairs 1998 to 2000 FCO, Desk Officer – Middle East Peace Process Section, Near East and North Africa Department 1995 to 1998 Doha, Second Secretary – Commercial 1992 to 1994 Paris, Third Secretary – Economic 1988 to 1991 Riyadh, Third Secretary – Chancery 1986 to 1988 Full-time Language Training (Arabic) 1985 to 1986 FCO, Desk Officer – Legal Procedures Section, Nationality and Treaty Department

Mr Nicholas Abbott has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo.

• Global tax rules do not reflect the digital age, Chancellor to warn world leaders

• Chancellor will also meet with the leaders of the Japanese business federation and Japan’s big banks to discuss future opportunities from the UK-Japan relationship

World leaders must follow the UK’s lead and work together to ensure global tax rules keep up with the times, the Chancellor will stress at a meeting of Finance Ministers from major economies around the world in Fukuoka, Japan (7 June).

The digital revolution has transformed how we do business, but the international corporate tax system is outdated, the Chancellor will say during the meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. He will also outline the benefits brought by digitalisation to the UK economy and beyond, but warn that a plan needs to be agreed to tackle the way tech multi-nationals are taxed, because change is too slow.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond said:

Britain’s future outside the EU depends on the strong partnerships we build with our friends and neighbours across the world.

In Japan, I will further strengthen our successful economic relationship by showcasing how we’re embracing the new economy and champion our world-class expertise in tackling the challenges posed by the digital revolution. I will also meet with my G20 counterparts to reaffirm the need for global reform of the international corporate tax framework, to ensure it is fit for the future.

The Chancellor set out details in last year’s Budget for a Digital Services Tax – a tax on the revenues of certain online business models. But he made clear then that an international agreement would be the best solution to ensure that digital platform businesses that generate substantial value in the UK pay their fair share of tax.

Alongside Japanese, Chinese, French, and American counterparts, the Chancellor will reaffirm the UK’s commitment to reaching an international agreement on reforms to the international corporate tax framework for digital businesses.

Building on a recent report from the Global Infrastructure Hub – a G20 initiative – which noted that the UK is a ‘pioneer of project delivery globally’, the Chancellor will also push for the adoption of a set of shared principles for global quality infrastructure investment. The G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment will support efforts to close the infrastructure financing gap and drive sustainable growth.

The Chancellor will also hold talks with Finance Ministers of some of the largest global economies, including for the first time India’s new Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. They’ll discuss the challenges facing the global economy and cooperation post-Brexit.

Finally, in Tokyo the Chancellor is also set to meet with senior figures in Keidanren (the Japanese Business Federation) and the CEOs of some of Japan’s largest businesses and banks, including Masayoshi Son, Founder and CEO of Softbank. They’ll discuss how the UK will maintain and strengthen its future economic ties with Japan – the world’s third largest economy – long after Brexit.

Japan was the UK’s 4th largest trading partner outside of the EU in 2018. Total trade in goods and services (i.e. exports plus imports) between the UK and Japan was £29.5 billion by the end of Q4 2018, 8.5% more than 2017.

The International Trade Secretary is also attending G20 meetings in Japan this weekend to address global trade tensions and advance reform of the WTO, including on digital trade rules that are fit for the 21st century.

Further Information

• Keidanren is the largest and most influential Japanese business organisation, comprising 1,412 major companies, 109 industrial associations and 47 regional economic organisations.

• The UK used its Presidency of the G8 in 2013 to initiate the first substantial renovation of the international tax standards in almost a century. The ‘BEPS package’ initiated then is a series of concrete measures to help countries tackle businesses shifting their profits around to limit their tax bills.

• The Infrastructure and Projects Authority, the UK’s centre of expertise for the delivery of infrastructure and major projects, has provided support to over 60 governments on infrastructure planning and delivery, and is working to promote the G20 Principles for the Infrastructure Project Preparation Phase – a key element of quality infrastructure endorsed by the G20 in 2018.

Absolute Resource Management Limited was incorporated on 30 November 2007 and began trading in 2009 under the sole directorship of Carol Perry. The Bedford-based company provided IT consultancy services to businesses.

By August 2016, however, Absolute Resource Management was unable to pay its debts and appointed a liquidator to commence voluntary liquidation proceedings.

The liquidator’s report triggered an Insolvency Service investigation, which uncovered that Carol Perry’s younger brother, Keith Angus Perry (49), had been acting as a shadow director of Absolute Resource Management since 2010 – despite being disqualified from doing so.

Keith Perry’s original ban came into force in August 2010 for seven years following his conduct while director of Absolute Service Management (Beds) Limited. He caused that company not to maintain adequate accounting records or pay appropriate taxes.

Under his disqualification restrictions, Keith Perry should have applied to the courts for leave to act as a director of Absolute Resource Management Limited, but failed to do so.

Investigators also uncovered that Keith Perry repeated his earlier misconduct, causing Absolute Resource Management Limited not to pay its taxes in full between March 2013 and August 2016. The company eventually stopped trading owing the tax authority more than £220,000.

On 15 May 2019, the Secretary of State accepted a disqualification undertaking from Keith Angus Perry for 11 years, commencing on 5 June 2019.

His older sister, Carol Perry (51), previously signed a disqualification undertaking in July 2018 for four years after failing to ensure the company fulfilled its tax obligations.

The Perry siblings are disqualified from directly or indirectly becoming involved, without the permission of the court, in the promotion, formation or management of a company.

Lawrence Zussman, Deputy Head of Insolvent Investigations for the Insolvency Service, said:

The liquidation of Absolute Resource Management shone a light on what had been going on in the shadows, revealing that Keith Perry had been flouting his ban.

This 11-year disqualification serves as a warning to other directors who think they can hoodwink the system that we will pursue enforcement action to stop unscrupulous behaviour.

Keith Angus Perry (49) is of Luton and his date of birth is January 1970.

Carol Georgina Perry (51) is of Luton and her date of birth is December 1967.

Absolute Resource Management Limited (Company number 06441727).

Absolute Service Management (Beds) Limited, formerly named Absolute Service Management Limited, was wound up on 27 April 2009 and placed in Compulsory Liquidation. (Company number 05043521).

A disqualification order has the effect that, without specific permission of a court, a person with a disqualification cannot:

• act as a director of a company
• take part, directly or indirectly, in the promotion, formation or management of a company or limited liability partnership
• be a receiver of a company’s property

Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings.

Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions.

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct, is available.

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on: