§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many businesses have been wound up or made bankrupt in each of the last five years; and how many enterprises have commenced trading during the same period.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisI regret that there are no records of the number of enterprises which have commenced trading. Figures for insolvencies in England and Wales up to 1977 were published inTrade and Industry—3 November 1978, page 245—and figures up to 1978 will be published in the 2 February 1979 issue. 539W Figures for members' voluntary liquidations, when the company is not insolvent, are given in table 8a of Companies in 1977. Comparable 1978 figures for all categories are as follows:
Bankruptcies* 3,820 Company liquidations— compulsory 2,240 creditors' voluntary 2,840 members' voluntary 3,624 *Receiving and administration orders made.