Britain's Labour party calls for investigation into private emails
June 28, 2021, 4:45 am

Britain's Labour party calls for investigation into private emails

Matt Hancock resigned as health secretary

BBC reported that Labour has called for an investigation into ministers' use of private email addresses for government business. Labour party

This follows a report in the Sunday Times that former health secretary Matt Hancock potentially breached guidelines by using his personal email account.

The BBC quoted that Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner has called it a "shady practice" and said it could "conceal vital information".

The BBC said that the Sunday Times had seen documents that suggested Mr Hancock had "routinely used a private account to conduct government business", while junior health minister Lord Bethell also used his personal email address.

This could mean that the government does not hold complete records of the former health secretary's decision-making during the pandemic, including on matters such as PPE contracts, Test and Trace and the government's care home strategy. Labour party

Ms Rayner has called for the recovery of any emails relevant to a public inquiry into the pandemic response.

In a letter to the cabinet secretary - the top civil servant - and the information commissioner, she demanded to know whether private emails had been used to discuss government contracts and if their use might have potentially broken the law.

"We need to know how wide this goes and how much government business is being conducted in secret," The BBC quoted her as saying.

Cabinet Office guidelines state that where government business is conducted using private email addresses, steps should be taken "to ensure the relevant information is accessible".

One guideline states that a copy should be sent to a departmental email address - for record-keeping purposes, but also so it can be requested under the Freedom of Information Act.

A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesman said: "All DHSC ministers understand the rules around personal email usage and only conduct government business through their departmental email addresses."

The BBC reported, citing the Sunday Times that the minutes from a meeting between senior officials in the DHSC in December showed that David Williams, who was then the department's second permanent secretary, warned that Mr Hancock "only" dealt with his private office "via Gmail account".

The paper reported that Mr Williams said the secretary of state "does not have a DHSC inbox" and that health minister Lord Bethell also "routinely uses his private inbox", but that official accounts had been provided afterwards.

He said he "doesn't believe there were inappropriate acts on behalf of ministers but can clearly see the optics suggest otherwise".

Mr Hancock resigned as health secretary on Saturday after pictures were published of him kissing his colleague, and DHSC non-executive board member, Gina Coladangelo in the departmental building.

He has also faced questions over the appointment of his long-time friend Ms Coladangelo to the department - while an investigation has been launched into how the footage of the pair was leaked.

Mr Hancock has been replaced as health secretary by former chancellor Sajid Javid. Labour party

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Source: BBC

Image source: Getty Images-BBC

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.