§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the number of company liquidations in England and Wales for the last three months of 1980, what percentage this was of 1980's total; how these quarterly figures compared with the same period in 1979; whether he will also give the annual figures for 1980 compared with 1979; how much higher or lower these were on a percentage basis; and to what extent the self-employed accounted for this total.
§ Mr. EyreThe figures are as follows:
Number of company liquidations* Percentage of annual total 4th quarter 1980 2210 32 4th quarter 1979 1502 33 Year 1980 6876 Year 1979 4537 * Compulsory and creditors' voluntary liquidations. Liquidations in the year 1980 were 52 per cent. higher than in 1979.
Self-employed persons are subject to bankruptcy proceedings and over the last four years have accounted
476Wthe prisons Vote will be raised from £397,339,000 to £400,721,000. This additional provision will be used solely to cover the cost of the prison officers' industrial action, and is due solely to the further prolongation of the dispute.