HC Deb 25 January 1966 vol 723 cc59-60W
Mr. Milne

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the firms in the North-East who have been in receipt of Government grants and loans and have gone into liquidation.

Mr. Darling

Information in this form is not readily available. It would in any event be subject to the Boards normal practice of treating as confidential details of assistance to individual firms.

Mr. Milne

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are taken to recover grants and loans from firms who have gone into liquidation; and what control the Board of Trade has over the dispersal of plant, machinery and other assets.

Mr. Darling

The Board of Trade may claim as secured or unsecured creditors on a liquidation. Normally the Board are secured creditors for loans under the Local Employment Acts and, subject to a time limit, unsecured creditors for grants. The liquidator is responsible for the disposal of assets and the payment of the net proceeds to creditors.