§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of decrees of sequestration registered annually by the Accountant of Bankruptcy in the year to 1 April and the total gross payment made under the provisions of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 to trustees in sequestration from public funds in the financial year 1989–90.
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§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIt is estimated that during the year ending 31 March 1990 there will be approximately 2,500 awards of sequestration and that the gross payments from public funds will be about £6 million.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what average hourly rate is applied by the Accountant in Bankruptcy for the remuneration of trustees in sequestration in(a) small asset cases and (b) other cases.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThere are no fixed rates for the remuneration of trustees. The Accountant in Bankruptcy, in discharging his statutory duties to determine the appropriate level of payment, has regard in both types of cases to the rates published by the Law Society of Scotland in respect of charges by the legal profession for similar work.