HC Deb 02 February 1990 vol 166 cc411-2W
Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Companies House records on Garston Amhurst Associates Holdings Limited are up to date.

Mr. Redwood

There is no company currently registered under the name Garston Amhurst Associates Holdings Limited. There are, however, five similarly named companies on the register which are listed in the table, together with details of their current filing position in relation to annual returns and accounts.

Outstanding documents
Company name Annual accounts Annual returns
Garston Amhurst Associates (Bristol) Limited 1988 1987–88
Garston Amhurst Associates (Financial Management) Limited 1988 1986–88
Garston Amhurst Associated (Financial Services) Limited 1988 1988
Garston Amhurst Associates (General) Limited 1988 1986–88
Garston Amhurst Associates (London) Limited 1988 1987–88

Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will commence an inquiry under the Companies Act into Garston Amhurst Associates Holdings Limited, its directors and its auditors;

(2) what information he has about the auditors of Garston Amhurst Associates Holdings Limited;

(3) what information he has on the corporate entity called Garston Amhurst or Garston Amhurst Associates Group Holdings Limited and its directors.

Mr. Redwood

I am aware of recent developments concerning GAA Group Holdings Limited and other companies in the Garston Amhurst Associates Group.

On 25 January 1990 the Securities and Investments Board presented petitions for the winding up of the following group companies of which the Official Receiver was appointed provisional liquidator on the same day:

  • GAA Group Holdings Limited
  • Garston Amhurst Associates (London) Limited
  • Garston Amhurst Associates (Bristol) Limited
  • Garston Amhurst Associates (Financial Services) Limited
  • Garston Amhurst Associates (Financial Management) Limited

These companies have been drawn to the attention of the Serious Fraud Office by the Securities and Investments Board and the Serious Fraud Office has confirmed that an inquiry into them is in progress.

In the circumstances I have no plans to exercise investigatory powers in relation to those companies and I cannot comment further.