HC Deb 26 April 1967 vol 745 cc1604-6
53. Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many companies were placed in the hands of the Official Receiver and non-official liquidators and of these, what was the total wound up or declared bankrupt in the quarter ending 31st March, 1967; and how this figure compares with the previous three quarters and the same quarter, last year.

Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of companies in the hands of the Official Receiver and non-official liquidator at 31st March, 1967; and how this figure compares with that at the end of the previous three quarters, and at the end of the same quarter last year.

Mr. Darling

With permission I will answer this Question and No. 2 for Written Answer together.

As the information requested is detailed, I am circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Osborn

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the position is any better or worse this quarter than in the last quarter and the previous year?

Mr. Darling

It is difficult to say, because the figures of compulsory liquidations begun in England and Wales in recent years have been increasing rapidly ever since 1956. They go up by about 100 cases a year, and I can tell the hon. Gentleman that the trend is still continuing.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Does the information which my right hon. Friend is to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT break up the figures to show which relate to England and Wales, and which to Scotland?

Mr. Darling

There are separate figures for Scotland, and in fact different Scottish law, which creates difficulties in giving the kind of figures which my hon. and learned Friend wants.

Following is the information: The number of winding-up orders made in England and Wales in the quarter ended 31st March, 1967, was 329. In 96 cases non-official liquidators were appointed by the court; in 150 cases Official Receivers remained liquidators; in the remaining 83 cases the results of the meeting of creditors are not yet known.

The figures for 1966 are as follows:—

Quarter Winding-up Orders Official Receivers Non-official Liquidators
First quarter 241 150 91
Second quarter 218 147 71
Third quarter 127 86 41
Fourth quarter 348 237 111
The number of compulsory liquidations in the hands of Official Receivers and non-official liquidators at 31st March, 1967 was 3,705; Official Receivers are liquidators in 2,104 cases and non-official liquidators in 1,518 cases; in 83 cases the results of the meetings of creditors are not yet known.

The figures for 1966 are as follows:—

Total Official Receivers Non-official Liquidators
At 31st March, 1966 3,298 1,914 1,384
At 30th June, 1966 3,357 1,922 1,435
At 30th Sept., 1966 3,353 1,871 1,482
At 31st Dec., 1966 3,534 2,027 1,507