§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints the Insolvency Service Agency received about the conduct of independent practitioners during each year since 1990 and so far in 1993.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonThe Insolvency Service Agency does not keep a record specifically relating to complaints about the conduct of insolvency practitioners, but receives a range of correspondence relating to the administration of insolvencies.
Mr. Peter Joyce, the agency's chief executive, answered letters, some of which contained criticism of practitioners, totalling 26 in 1991, 85 in 1992 and 50 to 31 October 1993.
In addition, I and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade have responded to letters from hon. Members concerning specific insolvencies totalling 399 in 1991, 355 in 1992 and 314 to 31 October 1993. Officials have answered on our behalf 207 letters in 1992 and 147 to 31 October 1993. Information on how many of these letters contained complaints about independent practitioners could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
No central record is kept of complaints about the conduct of insolvency practitioners made direct to official receivers.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many investigations the Insolvency Service Agency has conducted into independent practitioners during each year since 1990 and so far in 1993.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonThe Insolvency Service undertakes routine monitoring visits to practitioners to test their compliance with the legislation. Detailed special inspections are carried out where the facts of the case suggest that this is merited. The following figures are on a financial year basis: detailed records were not maintained prior to 1991–92.
Number Monitoring visits: 1991–92 31 1992–93 147 1993–94 (to date) 135 Special inspections: 1991–92 2 1992–93 9 1993–94 (to date) 5