HL Deb 03 July 1985 vol 465 cc1299-300WA
Lord Blease

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the total number of companies registered in Northern Ireland which ceased to trade, in each of the last five years for which figures are available, because of (a) the appointment of a receiver or liquidator, and (b) members' voluntary winding up.

Lord Lyell

The number of companies incorporated in Northern Ireland which have gone into receivership in the past five years is shown below.

The appointment of a receiver does not necessarily mean that a company ceases to trade; the company may continue in business under the control of the receiver until the debenture under which the receiver was appointed is satisfied, and then return to the control of the directors. No separate records are available to indicate the number of companies which resumed normal trading.

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Receivers appointed 26 18 27 19 19

The table below gives, for each of the past five years, the number of companies incorporated in Northern Ireland which have gone into liquidation, divided into those in creditors' voluntary liquidation, court liquidations and members' voluntary liquidation.

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Creditors 66 86 111 97 64
Court 8 16 10 15 19
Members 39 42 41 52 60
Total 113 144 162 164 143