BBC investigate Nirah's finances
October 2006

The BBC TV programme the Politics Show has investigated the financial dealings and connections behind Nirah, the controversial proposed aquarium and animal laboratory.

Broadcast on 24 September, the programme discussed the connections of Peter May, chair of Nirah.

According to the BBC:

• 10% of Nirah shares are owned by a company called MacArthur and Co
• MacArthur and Co are the financial advisors to Nirah
• The deputy chair of MacArthur and Co is Peter May
• MacArthur and Co is wholly owned by MacArthur and May Ltd
• In 2005 the largest shareholder and controller of MacArthur and May Ltd was - yes, you guessed it - Peter May

The BBC also reported that MacArthur and Co accounts for 2005 show that Peter May charged Nirah £288,000 in expenses and fees. MacArthur and Co moved into profit for the first time in 5 years.

Nirah's 2004 accounts show that they owed £530,000 to creditors - £430,000 of it to MacArthur and Co.

Nirah has already received £3 million public funding - £1.5 million from Bedfordshire County Council and £1.5 million from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) although it has not even submitted a planning application yet.

While there are no allegations of any 'wrong-doing', these connections certainly raise questions about the public funding of this commercial project.

Madeline Russell, head of Bedfordshire County Council, interviewed for the programme, said that the vast majority of money spent was so far on professional fees.

The programme stated that MacArthur and Co have not put any of their own money into Nirah but are making money from the project. Despite Councillor Russell's assertion that 'entrepreneurs' like MacArthur and Co are required to make money in return for their efforts, the interviewer noted that MacArthur and Co have not actually put in any of their own money to the project:

Interviewer: "They're not really risking anything are they?"

Madeline Russell replied: "In that sense no, not that I'm aware of."

CAPS has already noted that George Kieffer, deputy chair of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), which has given £1.5 million to Nirah, is also a director of Nirah.

The East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) has also been critical of the lack of information contained in a report on Nirah produced by the East of England Development Agency.

The confidential report, which will not be open to public scrutiny, was requested because of the large amount of public money already involved in the project. But Chris White, deputy chair of EERA, said that the three page, 1,000-word report did not provide enough information.

A march and rally (see images top right) in Bedford town centre on 7th October to oppose Nirah received great support from locals who expressed their concerns about the use of public money to fund what is becoming a major embarrassment for Bedfordshire.

Other articles about Nirah:
www.captiveanimals.org/news/2006/nirah_begging_bowl.html
www.captiveanimals.org/news/2006/nirah2.htm
www.captiveanimals.org/news/2006/nirah.htm

How you can help

	For more information on our opposition to the Nirah Project see our Questions and Answers page.
	Ask the local councils to withdraw support for this captive animal facility - click here for more details.

All photos: CAPS