§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many electronics companies with a work force of fewer than 40 employees have gone bankrupt in the last 12 months.
§ Mr. FletcherI regret that figures are not available by size of company nor by detailed industries. Electronics companies are included in the broad category of "metals and engineering" and the article on insolvencies to 'be published in 'British business' on 26 April will show that 1,338 companies in this category in England and Wales went into liquidation due to insolvency in 1984. The number of bankruptcies of individuals and partnerships in the same broad category in 1984 will be available shortly and will be published in 'British business'; a provisional estimate for January/September 1984 is 54.