§ 25. Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the number of bankruptcies in the building industry in 1969 to the latest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. John SilkenI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Donald Williams) on 19th November, 1969.—[Vol. 791, c. 319.]
§ Mr. MorrisonIs the Minister aware that from the beginning of 1965 to the 1336 end of September this year no fewer than 3,650 builders have gone bankrupt? Is not this an extremely serious situation which emphasises the Minister's responsibility for making representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that builders should be put into the priority class of borrowers?
Mr. SilkinAny bankruptcy, particularly one in the construction industry, is a matter of grave concern to the country, but the number of bankruptcies this year and last year are not at variance with those of previous years.
§ Mr. HefferWill my right hon. Friend say how large were the building firms that went bankrupt? It is well known that bankruptcies of small builders who have one ladder and a wheelbarrow have been occurring ever since the building industry began.
Mr. SilkinIn an industry that has 89,000 builders, it is almost inevitable that the majority of bankruptcies should be of the sort described by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. SpeedThe Minister said that the figures were not at variance with those for previous years, but in 1965 there were 644 bankruptcies, and the figure was running at the rate of 860 in 1967 and 833 in 1968. How many bankruptcies must there be before the Minister shows concern?
Mr. SilkinI thought I had shown considerable concern; perhaps the hon. Gentleman was not listening to me. The number of bankruptcies for the first nine months of this year, to 30th September, was 569, which is not a variance with previous years.