The Analysis News & Opinions
Opinion
‘Help can no longer be a dollar short and a day’
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a strict new lockdown for the Scottish mainland. We have urged ministers to provide more help, more quickly to Scotland’s smaller firms to see them through this stage of the crisis. This hard lockdown will cause more
heartbreak for Scotland’s smaller businesses. To stop deep disappointment turning into despondency, ministers need to mitigate the impact on independent and local businesses with easier-to-access financial help and crystal- clear advice. We need to see support for the economy match the scale and pace of
these
restrictions. Help for Scottish business can no longer be a dollar short and a day late. For a start, the glut of new support schemes announced at the end of last year need to start delivering cash to firms. So far, few of these initiatives have paid
out a penny. Then ministers need to urgently look at new ways to get money to the local firms who have borne the business brunt of this crisis. The Scottish government knows that closing schools and nurseries under- mines the foundations of local economies. Working parents across Scotland now face
the stress of juggling childcare with their professional responsibilities. While we know that small employers will
be as flexible as possible, this change heaps pressures on workers and firms alike. Ministers must look at their options at the earliest opportunity.
Andrew McRae Scotland policy chair, Federation of Small Businesses
Brothers banned for failing to pay debts
Two restaurateurs have been disqualified for a total of 12 years after suppressing takings to avoid paying correct amount of tax. Brothers Carlos Enrique De La Cruz
Vidal (51), from South East London, and Fernando De La Cruz Vidal (52), from Granada in Spain, are now banned from acting as directors or directly or indirectly becoming involved, without the permission of the court, in the promotion, formation or management of a company. Carlos’ six-year ban became effective on
5 November, while Fernando’s six-year ban is effective from 30 December. The brothers were appointed directors of
Santo Limited in April 2007 on the same date as the company was incorporated. Santo Limited traded as a restaurant
called Santo on Portobello Road, West London, but the company entered into creditors voluntary liquidation in December 2018 before the brothers’ conduct was referred to the Insolvency Service for further enquiries. Investigators established that Santo
Limited was subject to enquiries by the tax authorities in November 2017 after issues were discovered relating to the company’s tax returns. The tax authorities found that from
September 2014 to September 2017 the brothers had suppressed the company’s takings by more than £173,000 and overstated the amount of takings that were non-taxable. By the time the company had gone into
liquidation in December 2018 the tax authorities claimed almost £200,000 in the liquidation. Carlos Enrique De La Cruz Vidal had his
undertaking accepted by the Secretary of State on 15 October, while Fernando De La
Cruz Vidal had his undertaking accepted on 9 December. In their undertakings, the brothers did not
dispute that they caused inaccurate tax returns to be submitted to the tax authorities by supressing their sales income. Lawrence Zussman, deputy head of
insolvent investigations at the Insolvency Service, said: “Customers have a right to expect that the tax they pay on their food is given to the tax authorities. Instead, Carlos and Fernando De La Cruz Vidal substantially underdeclared the tax due and in doing so both failed to take their responsibilities as directors seriously. “Carlos and Fernando have now been
removed from the business environment for six years and these bans should further serve as a warning to other directors that if you do not pay the correct taxes you run the serious risk of being disqualified.”
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www.CCRMagazine.com
January 2021
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