News Archive 2006
IMPORTANT AND URGENT - 9th December 2006
We have support from Colin Challen MP who has put forward an Early Day Motion in Parliament which reads: "That this House believes that all ex-servicemen and women should be treated equally in the payment of pensions, regardless of when they served in Her Majesty's armed forces" As of today, there are 58 signatures and the target is to obtain well over 200. Will everyone PLEASE write as soon as possible to your own MP and ask him/her to sign EDM67. If you know of anyone who understands our aims or another member not able to get on the web - PLEASE let them know too. Hopefully, this is the fresh beginning we have been working for and I believe Colin Challen when he says that he wants to pursue this through an Adjournment Debate. Keep your tabs on this website as I will update with everything that goes. p.s. Investigations still proceeding via the CCS.
Directors met - 15th September 2006
The Directors met on Tuesday 12th September to consider the current situation regarding our application to the Consumer Complaints Service (CCS) of the Law Society. Our case worker has gone on maternity leave. The CCS are allocating a senior case worker this week to prepare papers for the adjudicator who will determine the action to be taken in this matter. Chris Boyson has regretfully tendered his resignation as a Director due to ill health. He assures us that he will continue to support AFPG Ltd in any way he can and we will miss his sound guidance and knowledge of the actions to date. Currently, your Directors feel that the vacancy can be carried until a General Meeting. NOTE: IF ANY MEMBER IS APPROACHED IN ANY WAY REGARDING THE ACTIVITIES OF AFPG LTD PLEASE CONTACT MIKE STEEL ON 01623 402290 OR info@afpg.info BEFORE MAKING ANY COMMENT. We are now at 211 degs F/99.5 degs C - watch this space!!
Directors Meeting - 6th July 2006
At a meeting of the Directors on Wednesday 28th June 2006, the following update as agreed.
We have been unable, despite repeated requests, to obtain comprehensive accounts from Richmonds Solicitors. We are also waiting essential information on other matters which are necessary if we are to have a meaningful meeting of the Group to map the way forward.
Consequently, having made a formal complaint to the Consumer Complaints Section of the Law Society, we are awaiting the outcome of that process.
In parallel, new Socilitors have been instructed who are Stone King.
Stone King are recommended in both the leading independent guides to the legal profession (Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and the Legal 500) as one of the leading firms acting in the charity and not for profit sector with offices both in Bath and London.
For everone's information your Directors are:
Mike Steel - Nottinghamshire
Barry Wells -Gloucestershire
Nigel Lodge - Norfolk
Chris Boyson - Surrey
Richard Putnam- Leicestershire
European Court of Human Rights - 6th May 2006
It is now three months since the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, that the case Richmonds Solicitors presented on behalf of their clients, AFPG Ltd, was ruled inadmissible. Sadly, the Directors of AFPG Ltd are still waiting to hear from Richmonds Solicitors as to why the case was considered inadmissible. The Directors have telephoned, e-mailed and written to Richmonds Solicitors at Keynsham, using recorded delivery methods, in an attempt to obtain information. Information, that is, concerning the ruling by the ECHR but just as importantly, information relating to the Accounts of AFPG (former group) and AFPG Ltd. The Directors have had no response to their requests and therefore they have now formally referred the matter to the Consumer Complaints Service of the Law Society who have acknowledged our request to investigate the circumstances. You will no doubt know that AFPG Ltd had an outstanding account of £41,197.67 with the Treasury Solicitor who was acting for the Ministry of Defence at the time of our being "Ruled Out" by the High Court. The Directors removed the responsibility from Richmonds Solicitors for this matter, made them formally "off record" and then negotiated directly with the Treasury Solicitor with the result of managing to settle for less than half of that being demanded. The final sum paid by AFPG Ltd to the TSol was £20,000 in full and final settlement of MoD costs. Currently, with the response of our letter of 27th February this year, we have about 1,400 members willing to carry on. Ever since the new Company was formed, the aim of the Directors has been to keep costs to the barest minimem whilst still encouraging and soliciting help and sympathy from political arms of any party willing to listen. So we are down but definitely NOT OUT. A new beginning maybe, and with that in mind, new members are welcome. We have to start again somewhere so a £15 joining fee will be required which will correspond with the £15 we have all paid in order to wrap up the old action. The Directors have spoken with officials from the Combined Armed Forces Federation UK (CAFF UK) with a view to perhaps pooling resources and experience. CAFF's response was cool to the point of a "rebuff" so we continue alone for the time being, but no door is ever closed. Having spent such a vast amount of money on legal costs, the Directors are of a mind not to sanction any more legal cost spending, at least not until a clear account of what the previous sums were used for. Pressure will be kept on Richmonds Solicitors until such time that the Directors of AFPG Ltd are satisfied that a full account has been received and verified. As soon as the Directors have a clear understanding of accounts for both AFPG and AFPG Ltd a General Meeting will be called
European Court of Human Rights - 23rd February 2006
We regret to inform you that our application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has been declared inadmissible. The reasons stated are: "In the light of all the material in its possession, and in so far as the matters complained of were within its competence, the Court found that they did not disclose any appearance of a violation of the rights and freedoms set out in the Convention or its Protocols. This decision is final and not subject to any appeal by either the Court, including its Grand Chamber, or any other body" The letter from the ECHR was dated 18 Jan 06 and addressed to Richmonds Solicitors and received by them on 23 Jan 06. The copy to your Directors was not received from Richmonds (by email) until pm on 17 Feb 06 - this being the first notification from Richmonds about the outcome. Our application to the ECHR having been rejected we now need to consider the future. Liabilities of AFPG Ltd mean that in order to close the current business, £15 per member is required. We appreciate that any additional money at this stage comes hard but it is the only payment that has been requested since April 2005 and this amount will balance the accounts. A letter to all members is being prepared which will contain proposals for future actions that your Directors have carefully examined and are putting forward for your approval. Please don't shoot the messenger. Mike Steel
Richmonds Solicitors - 17th February 2006
No news as yet. We are still waiting for a report from Richmonds Solicitors. The Directors are endeavouring to clarify the situation and should be able to report to the Membership by the end of this month.