HC Deb 09 May 1961 vol 640 cc200-1
11. Mr. Slater

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of bankruptcies for the years 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1960; and how these figures compare with 1951 to 1954.

Mr. N. Macpherson

With permission, I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Slater

Could the hon. Gentleman say whether the figures are up or down? Has he any opinion as to the reasons for such bankruptcies?

Mr. Macpherson

Last year the figures were up, but I do not think that it would be safe to draw any deductions from one year alone.

Mr. du Cann

Will my hon. Friend say what is the position in regard to the revision of the out-of-date law on this subject in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee which considered it and reported some years ago?

Mr. Macpherson

That is a very different question.

Mr. Speaker

Order. It is quite a different question.

The figures are as follows:

1956 … … 2,136 1951 … … 1,816
1957 … … 2,061 1952 … … 2,043
1958 … … 2,250 1953 … … 2,222
1959 … … 2,301 1954 … … 2,176
1960 … … 2,801