§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what, for the year ending 18th June, 1970, was the number of firms and businesses which collapsed and went into voluntary or compulsory liquidation; in how many of these were government money or finance involved; and to what extent jobs were affected and redundancies and unemployment notified to him as being caused by such liquidations; and what were the similar details for the year ending 18th June, 1971.
§ Mr. RidleyIn the twelve-month periods ending on May, 1970 and May, 1971, the numbers were approximately 7,160 and 7,040, respectively, including four and five, respectively, in which the Government held shares or which had 21W received loans for which the Department of Trade and Industry are responsible. Information about consequent numbers of redundancies, so far as it is available, could not be compiled without undue expense.