§ Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he is satisfied with the adequacy of present procedures for debt collection in Northern Ireland; and how many representations he has received expressing dissatisfaction with the operation of the system, and especially of procedures under the Emergency Provisions Act;
(2) how many debtor's summonses and how many bankruptcies, respectively, there have been in 1973, 1974 and 1975 and until the latest available date in 1976; how many of these emanate from the Inland Revenue; and whether he has any statistical evidence of a move away from the procedures of the Judgements Enforcement Office;
(3) whether debt collection procedures under the Emergency Provisions Act 376W (Northern Ireland) 1971 apply to civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.