Annex L
Letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Standards
from Mr Roy Beggs MP
RE:
DRAFT
FILE
NOTE
My wife and family moved into our home farm on 14/7/66
the date on which purchase was completed.
I inherited my father's farm at Ballyclare in 1987
although I had been using the land for many years prior to 1987.
Ballyrickard farm was purchased in 1984, ie. 25 Acres Home, Ballyclare
22½, Ballyrickard 13¼ total 60 ACRES APPROX.
On 30-1-86 payment was made to J Hoybin & Sons
for cleaning existing open drains and sinking new drains etc.
at Ballyrickard farm.
Mr McKee was landfilling the site for at least seven
years before landfill tax was introduced in 1996 and arrangements
were made between Mr McKee and Customs and Excise to photograph
site and pay tax.
I have no recollection of being contacted re. Landfill
Tax. I understand from Mr McKee that he has regular site visits
and office visits from Customs and Excise and that all taxes due
are paid up to date.
I have instructed Larne Borough Council to transfer
the Waste Disposal Licence to D J McKee and Sons—copy enclosed
and copy of map showing area to be landfilled also enclosed copy
of final payment for purchase of home farm at 9, Carnduff, Larne,
and receipt for valuation of my father's estate from which I inherited
Ballyclare farm.
I enclose Library records from the House of Commons
which indicate that I have asked questions on Landfill and Landfill
Tax issues.
In approximately twelve years about _ of the 10¼
acre site has been covered by landfilled material. At this rate
landfilling may not be completed for my benefit in my lifetime.
No material of significance is being brought to the site by Mr
McKee since Landfill Tax was introduced. His competitor contractors
are filling up large sites on which they do not charge Landfill
Tax.
As the Licence holder I accept that I am liable for
Landfill Tax and expect that future responsibility will be with
Mr McKee to whom the licence should be transferred this month.
REFERENCE
PROPERTY
AT
INVER
ROAD,
LARNE
Draft File Note, paragraph 2
I have spoken with Mr Topping. The purchase price
was £120,000. I paid £20,000 toward the purchase price
and Mr Topping paid £100,000. Our understanding with the
user company was that it could be bought back at any time and
that is still the position.
The successor company/companies are Lintrend Textiles
Ltd and Lintrend Lamont Ltd, 3 Inver Road, Larne and specialised
in the manufacture of Arab Headgear Semagh and Guttragh. It is
my understanding that they have recently diversified into other
products.
I have had no involvement since contributing to the
initial purchase. Neither Mr Topping nor myself received any rent
or interest on the purchase price of £120,000 since 1989.
Mr Topping has maintained contact with the users
and invested substantially in the belief that he was helping to
get the company off to a good new start. He is currently responsible
for the overdraft of £283,065-09 and this does not include
any of the purchase price. In addition other sums have been paid
into the account by Mr Topping to reduce the overdraft.
The recorded losses are believed to exceed the present
value of the site.
Mr Topping No. 4 account is exclusively related to
the Inver-property. His accountant is Mr E McClelland of Price
Waterhouse Cooper, Penny Lane, Larne. His purpose in seeking interest
payment on his personal finding was to prevent loss of the property
to the tenant occupiers who have occupied the property free of
rent for approximately 12 years.
I have no written agreement with Mr Topping on the
ownership of the site or any profit share agreement. I have no
written agreement with the business nor has Mr Topping other than
an understanding that when the users could buy back the property
that option remains.
For details of the ownership of the business at Lintrend
Textiles, 3 Inver Road, Larne, contact Dr Sloan.
The property was not entered in the members interest
Register because I did not consider that my £20,000 part
of the £120,000 was substantial and because I received no
income of any kind.
No payment or benefit has been received because the
business has been unable to pay anything and has been supported
by Mr Topping personally.
I do not believe that I have been involved in any
Parliamentary proceeding which relates to issues which might be
relevant to the property at Inver Road, Larne during the period.
If I have acted incorrectly then I will be guided
as to how I can put things right and accept the consequences.
I have no other interests which should have been
registered.
1 March 2001
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