HC Deb 03 March 1976 vol 906 cc1507-8

Pink, Mr. R. Bonner (Chairman)

Cook, Mr. Robin F.

Davis, Mr. Clinton

Dormand, Mr.

Dunnett, Mr.

Evans, Mr. Ioan

Ford, Mr.

Gould, Mr.

Higgins, Mr.

Percival, Mr.

Renton, Mr. Tim

Shersby, Mr.

Stradling Thomas, Mr. John

Woodall, Mr.

examination concerning the conduct of the affairs of the insolvent, necessarily has to consider a variety of matters. He has to make judgments as to how a case is to be deployed at the public examination and so on. I do not think that radically different matters would have to come within his competence in this connection. It is right to say that there is the closest possible relationship between the official receiver and a debtor in the everyday course of bankruptcy matters.

The hon. Member for Worthing contemplated a Bill of truly gargantuan proportions for company law reform. He welcomed the idea of a series of interlocking Bills. I should not dissent from that proposition, but I dare not say too much about that at this stage. One might almost think that it could appear in one of the colour supplements to which he alluded. I shall certainly take into account the suggestion the hon. Gentleman made that I should circulate certain comparative figures.

Basically, the hon. Gentleman dealt with matters to which I have already referred. I maintain the point which he stressed about maintaining a balance between the creditor and the debtor. We may disagree about certain areas. We may disagree about whether we are maintaining the balance properly, but this is a useful measure. The Committee will be able to have some useful discussions, perhaps rather technical. However, I hope that the Bill will go through relatively unscathed. As I indicated earlier, my mind is not made up against helpful and constructive suggestions for amendment which might come from either side of the Committee.

Question put and agreed to.

Ordered,

That the Chairman do now report to the House that the Committee recommend that the Insolvency Bill [Lords] ought to be read a Second time.

Committee rose at One o'clock.