§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for Trade why Personal Port John Services Ltd. of Rotherham, Yorkshire, which is now being wound up under the Companies Act 1967, had not filed company reports with Companies House since 1975; how many other companies have not filed their returns for one, two, three, four and five years or more; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanThere is no company registered as "Personal Port John Services Limited". A company named "Personal Portfolio Services Limited" has it registered office in Rotherham and was wound up by order of the court on 22 March 1982. Following a complaint in August 1981, the company was reminded of its obligations to file annual returns and accounts and, subsequently, all outstanding annual returns were delivered on 25 November 1981. Reminder action in respect of outstanding accounts was discontinued on notification of the winding up order, in accordance with normal practice, on the grounds that the preparation of such documents might involve expenditure to the detriment of the interests of creditors.
Information is not maintained as to the number of companies in default for particular periods. On 10 May 1982, 427,509 companies were in default of their obligation to deliver accounts and 381,531 in respect of annual returns. It is estimated that at least 25 per cent. of the companies concerned are no longer in business or in operation. These should be struck off the register under the terms of section 353 of the Companies Act 1948 in due course.