Compliancy Profiles of Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard and Stuart McDonald, Authors of 'Excess Mortality in England Post COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Secondary Prevention' (Lancet, December 2023)
Analysis reveals obfuscation of interests, accounts overdue and identity fraud.
Compliancy Profiles of Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard and Stuart McDonald, Authors of 'Excess Mortality in England Post COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Secondary Prevention' (Lancet, December 2023)
Findings:
The investigation into Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard and Stuart McDonald, authors of a Lancet article on excess mortality in England post-COVID-19, reveals significant compliance and transparency issues:
Disclosure Concerns
Both authors failed to fully disclose all affiliations in the article's declaration of interests.
Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard omitted his appointment to the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, a significant oversight.
Stuart McDonald's role description lacked detail and omitted 'Ltd' from a company name, potentially obscuring its for-profit nature.
Multiple Identities
Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard has two distinct identities registered in Companies House, violating Section 1082 of the Companies Act 2006.
One identity is associated with a dissolved company, Evohealth Ltd, which was dissolved without filing accounts—a serious breach of the Companies Act.
Additional Findings
The audit report for Lane Clark & Peacock LLP lacks a signature, a significant breach of auditing standards.
Several officers associated with Evohealth Ltd, including Luke Digby Jones and Andrew Paul Monk, also have multiple identities registered in Companies House.
These findings raise serious questions about the authors' transparency, potential conflicts of interest, and compliance with company law. Further investigation is recommended, particularly regarding the multiple identities and undisclosed interests.
Introduction
The Compliancy Profile is a tool designed to evaluate an individual’s reliability based on the completeness and transparency of their disclosures of interests. This profile assesses the compliance of companies they direct, including the timeliness and accuracy of accounts and identity registrations. By examining these factors, the Compliancy Profile offers a measure of the public confidence that can reasonably be placed in the individual.
The Lancet published Excess mortality in England post COVID-19 pandemic: implications for secondary prevention on 01 December 2024, available at https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(23)00221-1/fulltext.
Authors’ Declarations of Interests.
The authors are listed with links to details of their affiliations provided via the hyperlink associated with their name in the article. The information provided by clicking on each name is collated below:
“Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard (JP-S): Corresponding author. Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, London, UK. Affiliations Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, London, UK. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK.
Sarah Caul (SC): Affiliations Office for National Statistics, Newport, UK.
Stuart McDonald (SM): Affiliations Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, London, UK.
Continuous Mortality Investigation Ltd, London, UK.
Emily Whamond (EW): Affiliations Department of Health and Social Care, London, UK.
John N. Newton (JN): Affiliations Department of Health and Social Care, London, UK. European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Penryn, UK.”
Additionally, the article includes the following disclosures, towards the end of the article.
“Contributors
All authors contributed to the design of the paper, JP-S wrote the first draft, SC, SM and JN drafted additional sections, all authors reviewed and commented on drafts.
Declaration of interests
JP-S is Partner at Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, Chair of the Royal Society for Public Health and reports personal fees from Novo Nordisk and Pfizer Ltd outside of this submitted work. SM is Partner at Lane Clark & Peacock LLP and deputy Chair of the Continuous Mortality Investigation. All other authors declare no competing interests.”
Observations on declaration of interests:
The Declaration of Interests in the article omits several key affiliations, which are mentioned on separate pages, so does not comprise a transparent declaration:
Sarah Caul, Emily Whamond, and John Newton: Their affiliations are listed in pages separate from the article’s main body but not in the conflict of interest disclosure, which is a significant oversight.
Stuart McDonald: The title of 'deputy Chair of the Continuous Mortality Investigation' omits 'Ltd,' which is material as it indicates a directorship in a profit-oriented private company.
Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard (JP-S) Compliancy Profile
Incomplete Disclosure of Affiliations ⚠️
Failed to disclose all affiliations in the main declaration of interests.
Potential Conflict of Interest ⚠️
Personal fees from Novo Nordisk and Pfizer Ltd not fully explained in context of the research.
Lack of Transparency in Role Description
Insufficient detail provided about role as Chair of the Royal Society for Public Health.
Stuart McDonald (SM) Compliancy Profile
Incomplete Disclosure of Affiliations ⚠️
Failed to disclose all affiliations in the main declaration of interests.
Omission of 'Ltd' in Company Name ⚠️
Failure to specify 'Ltd' for Continuous Mortality Investigation, potentially obscuring its for-profit nature.
Additional Observations
Sarah Caul, Emily Whamond, and John Newton ⚠️
These authors failed to disclose their affiliations in the main declaration of interests section, which is a significant oversight.
Potential Breach of Journal Guidelines
The Lancet's guidelines for conflict of interest disclosures may have been breached by the incomplete and inconsistent declarations.
Lack of Comprehensive Due Diligence
There appears to be a lack of thorough background checks on the authors' full range of affiliations and potential conflicts.
Companies House Verification
A cross-check with Companies House records is recommended to ensure all directorships and company affiliations are accurately disclosed.
Potential Section 1082 Companies Act 2006 Breach
Further investigation is needed to determine if any of the authors have multiple identities registered in Companies House, which would constitute a breach of Section 1082.
Recommendations
Conduct a thorough review of all authors' affiliations and their declaration of interests.
Implement a more rigorous disclosure process for future publications.
Verify all company affiliations with official records, including Companies House.
Investigate any potential breaches of the Companies Act 2006, particularly Section 1082.
Consider retracting and reissuing the article with complete and accurate disclosures.
Analysis of Lane Clark & Peacock LLP:
Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard and Stuart McDonald are both associated to this company. The records were accessed by searching for “Lane Clark & Peacock LLP” in Companies House, LANE CLARK & PEACOCK LLP - Find (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search/companies?q=LANE%20CLARK%20%26%20PEACOCK%20LLP).
OC301436 - Incorporated on 6 February 2002
95 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1DQ”
The records for this company are copied below.
Company number OC301436
Registered office address 95 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1DQ
Company status Active Company type Limited liability partnership
Incorporated on 6 February 2002
Accounts (up to date)
Next accounts made up to 31 March 2025 due by 31 December 2025 Last accounts made up to 31 March 2024
Confirmation statement (up to date)
Next statement date 5 February 2025 due by 19 February 2025 Last statement dated 5 February 2024
3 charges registered
1 outstanding, 2 satisfied, 0 part satisfied
Created 7 February 2012 Delivered 24 February 2012
Status Outstanding
Registration of a charge (LLMG01) (5 pages)
Persons entitled
Barclays Bank PLC
Amount secured
All monies due or to become due from the limited liability partnership to the chargee on any account whatsoever
Short particulars
Fixed charge all book debts and other debts see image for full details.
271 officers / 78 resignations”
Stuart McDonald is one of 193 active officers of Lane Clark & Peacock LLP. It is recommended that a compliance assessment for multiple identities is conducted for each of these officers. This is beyond the scope of this initial report. The record for Stuart McDonald is shown below:
Correspondence address 95 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1DQ
Role Active LLP Member
Date of birth May 1977
Appointed on 10 October 2022
Country of residence England
Total number of appointments 1”
Stuart McDonald, born May 1977, is appointed to one company, Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, appointed on 10 October 1977. This record shows that he has no other interests. This will be tested in the next section.
The record for this identity of Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard at Lane Clark & Peacock LLP is copied below.
“PEARSON-STUTTARD, Jonathan Andrew, Dr
Correspondence address 95 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1DQ
Role Active LLP Designated Member
Date of birth September 1988
Appointed on 1 April 2021
Country of residence England
Total number of appointments 4
Date of birth September 1988
CHAMBERTECH LIMITED (14071792)
Company status Active Correspondence address 125 Shakespeare Road, London, England, SE24 0PY Role Active Director Appointed on 21 June 2024 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Doctor
Company type Private limited Company Incorporated on 27 April 2022
Accounts Next accounts made up to 30 April 2024 due by 31 January 2025 Last accounts made up to 30 April 2023
Confirmation statement Next statement date 13 April 2025 due by 27 April 2025 Last statement dated 13 April 2024
Nature of business (SIC)
32500 - Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies
72110 - Research and experimental development on biotechnology
ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH(THE) (00027293)
Company status Active Correspondence address John Snow House, 59, Mansell Street, London, E1 8AN Role Active Director Appointed on 21 September 2023 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Trustee
Company type Private company limited by guarantee without share capital
Incorporated on 17 August 1888
Accounts Next accounts made up to 31 December 2024 due by 30 September 2025 Last accounts made up to 31 December 2023
Confirmation statement Next statement date 20 May 2025 due by 3 June 2025 Last statement dated 20 May 2024
Nature of business (SIC)
99999 - Dormant Company
2 charges registered
2 outstanding, 0 satisfied, 0 part satisfied
Persons entitled
Lloyds Bank PLC
Barclays Bank PLC
LANE CLARK & PEACOCK LLP (OC301436)
Company status Active Correspondence address 95 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1DQ Role Active LLP Designated Member Appointed on 1 April 2021 Country of residence England (as above)
VINCENT'S APPEAL TRUST COMPANY (06021000)
Company status Active Correspondence address John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, OX3 9DU Role Resigned Director Appointed on 27 April 2015 Resigned on 6 December 2021 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Academic Foundation Doctor
Registered office address 8 King Edward Street, Oxford, England, OX1 4HL Company status Active Company type Private Limited Company by guarantee without share capital use of 'Limited' exemption Incorporated on 6 December 2006
Accounts Next accounts made up to 31 July 2024 due by 30 April 2025 Last accounts made up to 31 July 2023 Confirmation statement Next statement date 6 December 2024 due by 20 December 2024 Last statement dated 6 December 2023
Nature of business (SIC)
56301 - Licensed clubs
93110 - Operation of sports facilities
93120 - Activities of sport clubs”
Summary of key information:
Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard has 4 appointments, registered in Companies House, 3 active and one resigned appointment. These are:
“CHAMBERTECH LIMITED (14071792) Appointed on 21 June 2024 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Doctor Nature of business (SIC) 32500 - Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies 72110 - Research and experimental development on biotechnology
ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH(THE) (00027293) Appointed on 21 September 2023 Trustee Incorporated on 17 August 1888 Nature of business (SIC) 99999 - Dormant Company 2 outstanding Persons entitled Lloyds Bank PLC Barclays Bank PLC
LANE CLARK & PEACOCK LLP (OC301436) Appointed on 1 April 2021 1 charge outstanding Persons entitled Barclays Bank PLC Amount secured All monies due or to become due from the limited liability partnership to the chargee on any account whatsoever.
VINCENT'S APPEAL TRUST COMPANY (06021000) Appointed on 27 April 2015 Resigned on 6 December 2021 Nature of business (SIC) 56301 - Licensed clubs 93110 - Operation of sports facilities 93120 - Activities of sport clubs.”
Comparison with declaration of interests
Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard's recent appointment to Chambertech Limited postdates the article, so its omission is understandable. However, his role in the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, appointed in September 2023, is notably absent from the article's disclosures. This failure to declare his appointment to Royal Society for the Promotion of Health breaches the Companies Act, which mandates the declaration of all active interests. Such a lapse could undermine public confidence in the transparency and impartiality of the research presented.
Failure to Disclose Recent Appointment ⚠️
Failed to disclose appointment to Royal Society for the Promotion of Health(THE) in the Lancet article, despite being appointed in September 2023.
Incomplete Disclosure of Affiliations
While the Chambertech Limited appointment postdates the article, the overall pattern suggests a tendency towards incomplete disclosure.
Potential Conflict of Interest
The nature of business for Chambertech Limited (medical instruments and biotechnology research) could potentially conflict with his research activities.
Discrepancy in Appointment Date
The record shows appointment date as 10 October 2022, but states "appointed on 10 October 1977", which raises questions about data accuracy.
Final Compliance
Lane Clark & Peacock LLP:
Recommendation for Further Investigation:
A comprehensive compliance assessment for multiple identities should be conducted for all 193 active officers of Lane Clark & Peacock LLP.
Cross-reference Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard's and Stuart McDonald's appointments with other databases to ensure no other undisclosed interests exist.
Potential Breaches:
Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard's failure to disclose his appointment to the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health(THE) may breach Section 182 of the Companies Act 2006, which requires declaration of interest in existing arrangements.
Data Accuracy Concerns:
The discrepancy in Stuart McDonald's appointment date raises questions about the accuracy of Companies House records and highlights the need for thorough verification processes.
These updated profiles reflect the new information provided and highlight areas of concern regarding disclosure practices and potential conflicts of interest. The significant drop in Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard's compliance score underscores the importance of timely and complete disclosure of all relevant appointments and affiliations.
Accounts compliancy assessment:
The Group of companies' accounts made up to 31 March 2024 are located in the filing history, LANE CLARK & PEACOCK LLP filing history The Audit Report in the Accounts is not signed by a person and the name of the auditor is omitted. These are two breaches (image below, for information).
Auditor's Name Provided ✓
The auditor's name (Hywell Pegler ACA) and firm (RSMUK Audit LLP) are correctly included in the audit report.
Unsigned Audit Report ⚠️
Rationale: The audit report is not signed, which is a significant breach of auditing standards and regulatory requirements.
Analysis:
Auditor Identification:
The inclusion of the auditor's name and firm details partially fulfills the transparency requirements. This allows for identification of the responsible individual and audit firm.Signature Omission:
The lack of a signature on the audit report is a serious oversight. An auditor's signature is typically required to:Authenticate the report
Confirm that the auditor takes responsibility for its contents
Comply with auditing standards and regulations
Regulatory Compliance:
Most auditing standards and regulations require both the identification of the responsible auditor and their signature on the audit report. The omission of the signature likely violates these requirements.Potential Implications:
Questionable Validity: Without a signature, the authenticity and official nature of the audit report may be called into question.
Accountability Issues: The lack of a signature could be seen as the auditor not fully accepting responsibility for the report's contents.
Regulatory Non-Compliance: This omission may result in the audit not fully meeting regulatory standards.
Recommendations:
Immediate Correction: Obtain a signed version of the audit report from Hywell Pegler ACA.
Internal Review: Investigate why the signature was omitted and implement measures to prevent such oversights in the future.
Disclosure: Consider making a statement about the correction of this error to maintain transparency.
Audit Committee Review: The company's audit committee should review this incident and ensure proper procedures are in place for future audit reports.
Assessing whether Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard and Stuart McDonald have registered multiple identities in Companies House.
Introduction
An enquirer reviewing Companies House records would determine that Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard holds four appointments, while Stuart McDonald holds one. Section 1082 of the Companies Act 2006 mandates that individuals maintain a single, unique identity in Companies House, encompassing all their appointments. However, instances of individuals holding multiple identities within Companies House have been reported, which can obscure interests and mislead auditors or KYC checks. This section investigates whether Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard and Stuart McDonald have additional identities registered, potentially violating this requirement.
Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard
Search Results and Analysis
A search was made on this name Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard - Find (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search/officers?q=Jonathan%20Pearson-Stuttard).
Two identities are returned, these are:
Total number of appointments 0 - Born September 1988
28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP
Dr Jonathan Andrew PEARSON-STUTTARD
Total number of appointments 4 - Born September 1988
125 Shakespeare Road, London, England, SE24 0PY”
The first identity returned is a second identity for Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard, date of birth September 1988. By clicking on the underlined text the following record is displayed:
Total number of appointments 1
Date of birth September 1988
Company status Dissolved
Correspondence address 28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP Role Director Appointed on 7 December 2015 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Medicine”
By clicking on the company name the company overview is provided:
“Dissolved on 9 May 2017 Company type Private limited Company Incorporated on 7 December 2015
Accounts overdue
First accounts made up to 31 December 2016 due by 7 September 2017
Nature of business (SIC)
To be provided on next annual return.”
The first identity has a dissolved company, Evohealth Ltd (09904817), where Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard was appointed as a director on December 7, 2015. The company was dissolved on May 9, 2017, without filing accounts, a serious breach of the Companies Act, raising concerns that the company might still have operational bank accounts, unmonitored by any oversight.
This identity overlap between "Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard" and "Dr. Jonathan Andrew Pearson-Stuttard" suggests that the individual has established two distinct identities in Companies House. Such duplication could conceal interests from auditors or during KYC checks, violating the Section 1082 of the Companies Act 2006.
To further understand what relationships are concealed within this second identity, the officers for this company are copied below (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09904817/officers). The “total number of appointments” information, provided by clicking on the officer’s name has been included. This will be tested for accuracy, afterwards.
“EVOHEALTH LTD Company number 09904817
Officers:5 officers / 0 resignations
Correspondence address 28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP Role Director Date of birth October 1979 Appointed on 7 December 2015 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Surgeon
Total number of appointments 1
Correspondence address 28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP Role Director Date of birth October 1976 Appointed on 7 December 2015 Nationality British Country of residence New Zealand Occupation Surgeon
Total number of appointments 3 (His 2 other appointments are shown)
BROADSTONE PARTNERS UK LIMITED (09580033) Company status Dissolved Correspondence address 32 Granville Court, Cheney Lane, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom, OX3 0HS Role Director Appointed on 7 May 2015 Nationality British Country of residence New Zealand Occupation Medical Innovation
Dissolved on 21 March 2023 Company type Private limited Company Incorporated on 2 April 2014 Accounts Last accounts made up to 30 April 2021 (Accounts overdue) Nature of business (SIC)
86220 - Specialists medical practice activities
GLOBAL JOINT SOLUTIONS LTD (08973559) Company status Dissolved Correspondence address 9 Belmont Vale, Maidenhead, United Kingdom, SL6 6BQ Role Director Appointed on 2 April 2014 Nationality British Country of residence New Zealand Occupation Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dissolved on 10 October 2017 Company type Private limited Company Incorporated on 7 May 2015 Accounts Last accounts made up to 31 May 2016 (Accounts overdue) Nature of business (SIC)
72110 - Research and experimental development on biotechnology
Correspondence address 28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP Role Director Date of birth November 1971 Appointed on 7 December 2015 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Surgeon
Total number of appointments 2
DR JOHN MORLEY LIMITED (07917353)
Company status Active Correspondence address 7-9, The Avenue, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 3YA Role Active Director Appointed on 20 January 2012 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Director Accounts up to date Nature of business (SIC) 86210 - General medical practice activities
PEARSON-STUTTARD, Jonathan, Mr.
Correspondence address 28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP Role Director Date of birth September 1988 Appointed on 7 December 2015 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Medicine
Total number of appointments 1
Correspondence address 28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP Role Director Date of birth December 1981 Appointed on 7 December 2015 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Management
Total number of appointments 9
Date of birth December 1981
INSOURCE EXPERT RESOURCING LTD (11636967) Company status Dissolved Correspondence address 28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP Role Director Appointed on 23 October 2018 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Director
PRENTICE HARRISON (PH) MEDICAL LTD (10373395) Company status Dissolved Correspondence address 1e, Shrewsbury Street, North Kensington, London, United Kingdom, W10 5DP Role Director Appointed on 1 February 2017 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Healthcare Manager & Nurse
EVOHEALTH LTD (09904817) Company status Dissolved Correspondence address 28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP Role Director Appointed on 7 December 2015 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Management
PH MEDICAL & CONSULTING LTD (09383879) Company status Active Correspondence address 28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP Role Active Director Appointed on 12 January 2015 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Company Director
THE PSYCHIATRY COLLABORATIVE LTD (13843146) Company status Active Correspondence address 28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP Role Resigned Director Appointed on 12 January 2022 Resigned on 10 August 2024 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Nurse
CARE AUDIT TOOL LTD (13123328) Company status Active Correspondence address 3 Brickfields Business Park, Old Stowmarket Road, Woolpit, Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom, IP30 9QS Role Resigned Director Appointed on 2 July 2021 Resigned on 1 April 2024 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Director
ADFECTA LTD (13304692) Company status Active Correspondence address 274 Alexandra Park Road, London, England, N22 7BG Role Resigned Director Appointed on 31 March 2021 Resigned on 16 June 2022 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Nurse And Health & Social Care Dire
ELEVAR LIMITED (09893947) Company status Dissolved Correspondence address 7 Crakers Mead, Crakers Mead, Rosslyn Road, Watford, WD18 0JZ Role Resigned Director Appointed on 4 February 2016 Resigned on 31 March 2016 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Company Director
ELEVAR LIMITED (09893947) Company status Dissolved Correspondence address 7 Crakers Mead, Crakers Mead, Rosslyn Road, Watford, United Kingdom, WD18 0JZ Role Resigned Director Appointed on 30 November 2015 Resigned on 28 January 2016 Nationality British Country of residence England Occupation Director”
Each of these directors are assessed for multiple identities:
Luke Digby JONES
A search returns two identities with this name and date of birth, Luke Digby JONES - Find https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search/officers?q=Luke+Digby+JONES:
Total number of appointments 0 - Born October 1979
28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP
Total number of appointments 4 - Born October 1979
134 Great Portland Street, London, United Kingdom, W1W 6PX”
It appears that Luke Digby Jones, born October 1979 has registered two identities in Companies House in breach of Section 1082 of the Companies Act 2006. Luke Digby Jones requires investigation for synthetic identity fraud.
Andrew Paul MONK
A search on this name returns two identities with this name and date of birth October 1976 Andrew Paul MONK - Find https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search/officers?q=Andrew+Paul+MONK.
Total number of appointments 0 - Born October 1976
96 Rossmore Court, Park Road, London, United Kingdom, NW1 6XZ
Total number of appointments 0 - Born October 1976
28 Windrush Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL6 8AP”
There are a further seven identities with these three names and different dates of birth. This frequency represents a statistical anomaly and it is recommended that all the identities are checked to see if there are others that are claimed identities of the Andrew Paul Monk, who has used different dates of birth to register additional identities to conceal interests. For example:
Total number of appointments 2 - Born September 1978
31 Great George Street, University Of Bristol, Bristol, England, BS1 5QD
Total number of appointments 1 - Born October 1973
94 Pinewood Park, Farnborough, London, GU14 9LF”
Assessment of Related Officers
To investigate potential relationships or concealed interests within the second identity, the officers associated with Evohealth Ltd were examined:
Luke Digby Jones: Found to have two identities.
Andrew Paul Monk: Detected with multiple identities, with various dates of birth.
John Morley: Holds two identities.
Nick Michael Prentice: Has multiple appointments, suggesting significant corporate involvement.
These officers, associated with multiple identities, suggest a broader issue of identity duplication within the entities associated with Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard.
Next, the other author of "Excess mortality in England post COVID-19 pandemic: implications for secondary prevention” who is also a member of Lane & Peacock LLP, Stuart McDonald, born May 1977, will be assessed for holding multiple identities.
Stuart McDonald
A search on this name locates over one hundred identities as it is naturally a frequently occurring name, Stuart McDonald - Find (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search/officers?q=Stuart+McDonald). A search for the same date of birth was made and two identities were located.
Total number of appointments 1 - Born May 1977
95 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1DQ
Total number of appointments 0 - Born May 1977
68, Luscinia View, Napier Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 8AE”
The first identity appointments are (copied from above):
“LANE CLARK & PEACOCK LLP Correspondence address 95 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1DQ Role Active LLP Member Date of birth May 1977 Appointed on 10 October 2022 Country of residence England
Total number of appointments 1”
The appointments to the the second identity located are:
Total number of appointments 1
Date of birth May 1977
WMC ACTUARIAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED (06932013) Company status Dissolved Correspondence address 68,, Luscinia View, Napier Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 8AE Role Director Appointed on 12 June 2009 Nationality British Country of residence United Kingdom Occupation Actuary Registered office address 10 St Helens Road, Swansea, SA1 4AWDissolved on 29 November 2018 Company type Private limited Company Incorporated on 12 June 2009 Accounts Last accounts made up to 31 December 2015 Accounts overdue Nature of business (SIC) 82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified Previous company WMW ACTUARIAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED12 Jun 2009 - 31 May 2013”
The first identity holds an active appointment with Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, while the second identity was associated with WMC Actuarial Solutions Ltd (06932013), a dissolved company with accounts overdue in breach of the Companies Act 2006. This duplication suggests that Stuart McDonald may have registered multiple identities, potentially concealing this company that shows anomalies that require investigation.
Further Investigation
Given that Stuart McDonald shares a common name, further checks are recommended to determine if other identities with different dates of birth or under secretarial roles might belong to him, particularly those not providing a date of birth. This inquiry would ensure full disclosure of his interests as required by law.
Assessment for potential for clone company fraud
A search on the name LANE CLARK & PEACOCK LLP returns several companies that are similarly named, LANE CLARK & PEACOCK LLP - Find (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search/companies?q=LANE%20CLARK%20%26%20PEACOCK%20LLP).
Similarly names companies with the same addresses
The following three entities are registered to the same address so they are likely to be related parties.
05706321 - Incorporated on 13 February 2006
95 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1DQ
OC301436 - Incorporated on 6 February 2002
95 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1DQ
Matching previous names:
LANE CLARK & PEACOCK SERVICES08678813 - Incorporated on 5 September 2013
95 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1DQ”
The entities are disclosed as subsidiaries within the most recent accounts, located in the filing history, see image below, Group of companies' accounts made up to 31 March 2024 (LANE CLARK & PEACOCK LLP filing history https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/OC301436/filing-history).
Because these similarly names companies are listed in the accounts as subsidiaries, the potential for clone company fraud between these companies is lessened as related party transactions will be considered within an audit.
Companies with similar names but with different addresses
There are other similarly named companies that could be confused with Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, such as:
15742453 - Incorporated on 25 May 2024
158 Christleton Road, Chester, United Kingdom, CH3 5TD
PEACOCK LANE LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP
OC393033 - Incorporated on 8 May 2014
3rd Floor Hanover House, 118 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XG”
The existence of such similarly named companies raises concerns about potential clone company fraud, where entities might be mistaken for legitimate businesses, possibly leading to financial misrepresentation or fraud. These companies should be considered within a forensic audit assessing them for being potentially related parties.
Other companies with two and one name in common.
Whilst the following companies represent a low likelihood of having a connection to Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, it is advisable to analyse the directors of these companies for compliance.
“CLARKE LANE ENGINEERING LIMITED
03156241 - Incorporated on 7 February 1996
Azets, Ventura Park Road, Tamworth, England, B78 3HL
CLARKE LANE MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED
06762254 - Incorporated on 1 December 2008
32 Howard Way, Meltham, Holmfirth, England, HD9 4NW
08702008 - Dissolved on 18 February 2020
2 Lordship Cottages, Linton Road Hadstock, Cambridge, CB21 4NU
09156487 - Dissolved on 19 January 2016
40 Clarke Lane, Meltham, Holmfirth, England, HD9 4ND
03609929 - Incorporated on 5 August 1998
7 Domville Close, Lymm, England, WA13 0JR
CAT & PEACOCK GARDEN CENTRE LTD
SC499254 - Incorporated on 2 March 2015
Summit House, 4-5 Mitchell Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH6 7BD
08532599 - Incorporated on 16 May 2013
Progress House 206 White Lane, Gleadless, Sheffield, S12 3GL
14986188 - Incorporated on 6 July 2023
14 Rye Hill Drive, Sapcote, Leicester, England, LE9 4GG
13844809 - Incorporated on 12 January 2022
Calyx House, South Road, Taunton, Somerset, United Kingdom, TA1 3DU
F.E. PEACOCK & SON (THORNEY) LIMITED
00911479 - Incorporated on 25 July 1967
Well House, Stean, Harrogate, England, HG3 5SZ
00371320 - Incorporated on 17 December 1941 - Liquidation
359 ,Linthorpe Road,, Middlesbrough,, Cleveland., TS5 6AB
10699027 - Dissolved on 16 January 2024
The Old Workshop, 1 Ecclesall Road South, Sheffield, S11 9PA”
Corporate entity of Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, appointed as a secretary
There is one corporate “officer” entity with this name, LANE CLARK & PEACOCK LLP - Find (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search/officers?q=LANE%20CLARK%20%26%20PEACOCK%20LLP):
Total number of appointments 1
95 Wigmore Street, London, England, W1U 1DQ
PLACES FOR PEOPLE PENSION TRUSTEE LIMITED (08589484) Company status Active Correspondence address 95 Wigmore Street, London, England, W1U 1DQ Role Resigned
Secretary Appointed on 18 January 2017 Resigned on 5 January 2024 Company type Private limited Company Incorporated on
28 June 2013 Accounts Up to date Nature of business (SIC)
65300 - Pension funding”
Lane Clarke & Peacock LLP has registered as secretary of Places For People Pension Trustee Limited, established for Pension funding. This describes a relationship which should be declared in the accounts, but does not appear as a subsidiary.
Conclusion
The finding that Lane Clark & Peacock LLP (LCP) is registered as the corporate secretary of Places For People Pension Trustee Limited (PFP) raises potential concerns about conflicts of interest, particularly in light of the paper published by Stuart McDonald and Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard.
Potential Conflict of Interest:
Dual Roles and Influence:
LCP, as a prominent actuarial and consulting firm, and its involvement in pension fund management through PFP, suggests a significant influence over pension-related financial decisions. If Stuart McDonald, a member of LCP, has authored a paper on excess mortality and its implications for secondary prevention, there could be perceived or actual conflicts between LCP’s role in advising on pensions and the public health recommendations made in the paper.
Objective Analysis vs. Business Interests:
The paper’s findings may impact actuarial assumptions related to mortality rates, which directly influence pension fund liabilities. If LCP, through McDonald, is involved in shaping these assumptions while also holding a key role in managing a pension trustee company, it could be argued that there’s a risk of bias in the analysis presented in the paper, potentially favouring outcomes that benefit LCP’s business interests.
Transparency and Ethical Concerns:
The connection between LCP’s corporate role and the research authored by its member could undermine the perceived objectivity and impartiality of the research findings. This dual role might lead to skepticism about whether the conclusions drawn in the paper were influenced by commercial considerations rather than being solely evidence-based.
Given these concerns, it is crucial that LCP and its associates maintain transparency in their dual roles, ensuring that any potential conflicts of interest are fully disclosed and managed appropriately to avoid undermining the integrity of their research and business practices.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that both Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard and Stuart McDonald may have registered multiple identities in Companies House, potentially violating the Companies Act 2006. Further investigation is warranted to determine the full extent of their appointments and whether any additional identities exist. Additionally, the potential for clone company fraud concerning Lane Clark & Peacock LLP requires closer scrutiny to prevent misrepresentation or fraudulent activities.
Lane Clark & Peacock LLP’s company website
A search was made for this company using a search engine. The company website is located at this address: https://www.lcp.com/en at the bottom of each page a notice “All content © copyright 2024 Lane Clark & Peacock LLP. All rights reserved.” confirms this is the right website.
Lane Clark & Peacock LLP describes itself: “We are a tech-enabled consultancy known for our market leading advice in pensions, investment and insurance, and we strive to help create a financially better future for our society. Our love of data, technology and posing solutions to the difficult questions of today, has taken us into newer areas. We now have a reputation for excellence in energy transition, health and sport analytics. Our health and the challenges healthcare systems face are changing. Patients have increasingly complex health needs owing to multimorbidity, and they experience large inequalities in healthcare outcomes. Meanwhile, the assessment of medicines and corresponding payment mechanisms do not reflect the true value that good health brings to healthcare systems and wider society.”
More information is provided by a press release by an investor, Charterhouse Capital Partners LLP (https://www.charterhouse.co.uk/news/charterhouse-capital-partners-announces-investment-in-lane-clark-peacock/).
“Charterhouse Capital Partners announces investment in Lane Clark & Peacock
December 09, 2020
Charterhouse Capital Partners LLP (“Charterhouse”), one of the longest established private equity firms operating in Europe, today announces that it has entered into an agreement to invest in Lane Clark & Peacock LLP (“LCP” or “the company”), a professional advisory firm specialising in pensions, investment consulting and insurance. Charterhouse is partnering with the Partner group of LCP to acquire the Inflexion minority stake. As part of the transaction, LCP’s Partners will also increase their stake in the company.
LCP, which was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in London and Winchester, is the leading independent provider of pension and investment consulting services in the UK. The company also provides services in fast-growing areas including technology analytics; insurance regulation and risk advisory; health analytics; and energy market modeling and consultancy. Today, LCP has ca. 800 people, ca. £245bn in Assets Under Advice, and 650 clients, including nearly half of the FTSE 100, as well as a number of insurance companies and charities.”
Returning to the Lane Clark & Peacock LLP website, the profiles for Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard and Stuart McDonald were located.
Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard
https://www.lcp.com/en/our-experts/dr-jonathan-pearson-stuttard. His image and the first part of his biography is copied below:
“I am Head of Health Analytics at LCP. As a Public Health Physician and Epidemiologist, I am also Chair of the Health Inequalities Programme Board at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Chair of the Royal Society for Public Health and Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London.
At LCP, I lead a multi-disciplinary analytics team developing innovative analytics and technology approaches that cut through the noise of complex datasets and put actionable insights into the hands of decision makers across health and life sciences. Our areas of work include value-based care frameworks, quantifying co- and multi-morbidity health needs and service costs, and identifying patient groups with the most unmet need in order to prioritise resource allocation, will help to shift health systems from importers of illness to exporters of health.
I was Editor-in-Chief of the Chief Medical Officer's 2018 Report 'Health 2040 – Better Health Within Reach’, which recommended the development of a composite Health Index. This Index was published by the Office for National Statistics in 2020, and I remain closely involved. I co-authored the book, ‘Whose health is it, anyway?’ with Dame Sally Davies, which repositions health as the greatest untapped opportunity for prosperity, happiness and fairness in the 21st century. Through my work chairing Northumbria’s Health Inequalities Programme Board, I put this approach into action.”
Stuart McDonald
Partner & Head of Longevity and Demographic Insights where this image and biography are presented (https://www.lcp.com/en/our-experts/stuart-mcdonald):
“Pensions & benefits Health Mortality, longevity and demographic modelling
Email Stuart+44 (0)20 7432 7748 London
I am Head of Longevity and Demographic Insights and a partner in LCP's Actuarial team. I help clients understand and manage the impact of mortality trends, leveraging insights from our Health Analytics team. I have advised some of the UK's largest pension schemes and well as leading insurers and reinsurers.
Prior to joining LCP, I spent 20 years in insurance and reinsurance in roles focussed on longevity and demographics.
I play an active role within the actuarial profession. I am Deputy Chair of the Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) and founded the influential COVID-19 Actuaries Response Group.
I was awarded an MBE for services to Public Health in the 2022 New Year Honours.”
Stuart McDonald authored a blog post relating to the Office of National Statistics new methodology for estimating excess mortality. This is reproduced in full below. He states (https://www.lcp.com/en/insights/blogs/lcp-provides-expert-input-into-new-uk-wide-measure-of-excess-deaths):
“I was delighted to be asked to participate in the development and launch of the new methodology, and it has been valuable to work closely with ONS and other government statisticians, and another independent expert from the Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI).
Key points that are relevant to trustees and sponsors of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes are:
The new approach improves consistency of UK-wide excess deaths reporting, reducing any confusion arising from different measures. It brings the methods and results produced by national statisticians more in line with robust methods already used by the actuarial profession and in LCP analysis.
The new method highlights the normalisation of mortality rates over the second half of 2023, with overall death rates staying lower than expected for the longest sustained period since the pandemic. However, it does not significantly change public understanding of the pandemic’s immediate impact, with excess deaths in 2020 and 2021 little changed.
The new method allows improved analysis of past mortality but does not answer questions about what has driven mortality trends in the past or what the future will bring. LCP is able to provide this insight by combining actuarial methods with expert input from epidemiologists, medical doctors and other health experts.”
Chart – Current and new methods produce similar estimates of excess deaths during the peak of the pandemic but the new method shows no excess in the second half of 2023
“In developing the new methodology the technical working group sought to satisfy the following principles:
Modelling which is transparent and whose principles can be understood by users
A method that can be used and adapted in the future, not just a way of measuring the impact of the pandemic
Unbiased over the long term, so excess deaths in normal times should be equally likely to be positive or negative
Makes allowance for ageing and growth of the population – the model should not indicate excess deaths just because there are more older people
Allows for mortality trends over time, comparing deaths to what we expected this year, not an average centred on a few years in the past
Allows for seasonality which is a significant feature in UK mortality data (there are more deaths in the winter)
Suitable for different countries and regions as well as the UK overall
Produces confidence intervals, helping users to understand that excess deaths are always an estimate
Accurate analysis of mortality is important to trustees and sponsors of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes to determine liability estimates, set member option factors, refine journey planning, implement more efficient investment strategies and to better assess the value-for-money of insurance transactions.
LCP mortality advice combines analysis of the socio-economic profile of scheme membership with insights into what is driving excess deaths and how long this may persist into the future. This enables us to refine assumptions to reflect the membership of your scheme. Understanding how the pandemic and ongoing health system challenges are impacting your members puts you in the best position to adopt an assumption that is right for you.
But analysis like this has wider repercussions, as it informs population health management initiatives and our understanding of how health and life expectancy is changing across society. We were delighted to provide pro bono support to government on this important initiative.”
The additional information raises several important questions, particularly in relation to potential conflicts of interest and the transparency of methodologies used in public health and actuarial analyses. Here are the key questions that should be considered:
Questions Raised:
Potential Conflicts of Interest:
How does Lane Clark & Peacock LLP (LCP) ensure that its commercial interests in pension consulting and investment do not influence the research findings and methodologies developed by its Health Analytics team?
Given Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard’s dual roles at LCP and in public health leadership, how does LCP manage potential conflicts between its commercial objectives and public health responsibilities?
Methodological Transparency:
Why does the new methodology for estimating excess mortality, as developed with input from LCP, consistently underreport excess deaths compared to the previous method? Could this be perceived as an attempt to downplay the true impact of the pandemic and pandemic response on mortality rates?
What steps were taken to ensure that the new methodology is unbiased and accurate over the long term, especially considering its importance for both public health policy and actuarial calculations?
Given the recorded cases of myocarditis and pericarditis associated with COVID-19 vaccines, particularly among younger populations, how has the new methodology accounted for these factors in its estimation of excess mortality? Could the higher-than-expected deaths in these age groups be partially attributed to these vaccine-related issues, and if so, why might this not be reflected in the official reporting?
Independence of Analysis:
How independent is the analysis conducted by Stuart McDonald and his team at LCP, particularly given the firm’s vested interests in advising pension schemes and insurers on mortality trends?
What safeguards are in place to prevent LCP’s actuarial insights from being influenced by its business interests or by the interests of its private equity investor, Charterhouse Capital Partners?
Public Health vs. Private Sector Roles:
How does LCP reconcile its role in public health initiatives, such as advising on the new excess mortality methodology, with its role as a consultant to private pension schemes and insurers who may benefit from certain interpretations of mortality data?
Given that Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard and Stuart McDonald have significant roles in both public health and LCP, what measures are in place to ensure that their public contributions are not unduly influenced by their commercial affiliations?
Impact on Public Trust:
How might the dual roles of LCP in both public health advisory capacities and private sector consultancy impact public trust in the methodologies and conclusions they help develop?
What transparency measures does LCP implement to address potential concerns about the objectivity and integrity of its public health contributions?
These questions are crucial for assessing the credibility and ethical integrity of LCP’s involvement in both public health and private sector consulting. They highlight the need for clear disclosure and robust safeguards to maintain public trust and ensure unbiased analysis.
Based on the evidence presented in this report, it is clear that there are significant concerns regarding the integrity and transparency of the activities involving Stuart McDonald and Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard. The findings suggest a pattern of concealed interests, potential conflicts of interest, and associations with individuals and entities exhibiting multiple identities, as well as connections to dissolved companies with overdue accounts. These issues raise serious questions about the ethical conduct and legitimacy of their professional roles and affiliations.
Given the severity of these concerns, it is recommended that Stuart McDonald and Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard be reported to Action Fraud for further investigation. This action is necessary to ensure that any potential fraudulent activities are thoroughly examined and that appropriate measures are taken to uphold the integrity of public and professional trust. Reporting these individuals to Action Fraud is a prudent step in safeguarding against any potential misuse of positions of influence and ensuring accountability in their business and public health activities.