Lord Speaker calls for Covid public inquiry ‘as soon as possible’
April 30, 2021, 10:07 am

Lord Speaker calls for Covid public inquiry ‘as soon as possible’

Lord Fowler was a cabinet minister under Margaret Thatcher for 11 years and is a former Conservative party chair.

Norman Fowler, health secretary under Thatcher, says ‘let’s have an inquiry and let’s do it now’

The Lord Speaker, Norman Fowler, has said a public inquiry into how the Covid pandemic was handled by the government should be set up “as soon as possible” and should not be delayed.

Lord Fowler, who was a cabinet minister under Margaret Thatcher for 11 years and is a former Conservative party chair, said: “I would support those saying we need an inquiry into … whether there was a delay in lockdown because if there was we need to know why.”

He added: “If it was … in face of medical advice then that is quite a hurdle. Politicians need to be guided by the best medical advice in positions of this kind.”

In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said an inquiry of this kind should “be automatic” and “should take place as soon as possible”. He added: “What we don’t need is an inquiry in a few years’ time.”His calls echoed those of the Institute for Government, whose leadership includes the former Conservative cabinet minister David Lidington and the former Labour science minister Lord Sainsbury, as they urged the prime minister to set up a statutory public inquiry in May, with hearings to start in September.

The healthcare thinktank the King’s Fund, which is chaired by Lord Kakkar, a government adviser on race and a professor of surgery at University College London, is also expected to tell Downing Street: “Now is the time.”

Their intervention comes after the Guardian revealed the extent of support for an inquiry from senior doctors and government scientific advisers.

Fowler, who as health secretary under Thatcher was central to early government information campaigns about HIV, will step down near the end of April, before the formal end of his five-year term in September. He is taking on a new role for the United Nations to continue campaigning on issues including HIV/Aids and the persecution of LGBT people.

A leaked memo revealed this month that the UK is to slash funding for lifesaving water, sanitation and hygiene projects in developing nations by more than 80%. When asked about this, Fowler said cutting the aid budget was a “bad decision”. “We have an 80% cut in funds and we only have a small budget, to begin with in terms of what the UK government gives. We get £15m a year and it has gone down to £2.5m.”

He said the move would harm the national reputation of the UK, describing the decision as “so tragic”.

When asked about the future of the House of Lords and whether there were too many people given a position, he said “there are good people in the House of Lords” who are “experts” and “work hard”.

“My committee proposed a reduction from 800 to 600 and below the House of Commons. Had we followed recommendations of my committee then we would be nearer that target … but on the other end the prime minister is putting more and more people in,” he said, adding that there needed to be a return to the former prime minister Theresa May’s policy of “moderation”.

source: Sarah Marsh

Levant

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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.