HC Deb 07 March 2002 vol 381 cc490-1W
Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many bankruptcies there were in each of the last 20 years. [40359]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The number of bankruptcy orders made in each of the last twenty years is as follows:

Bankruptcies
Year Number
1982 5,319
1983 6,576
1984 7,726
1985 6,730
1986 7,093
1987 6,994
1988 7,717
1989 8,138
1990 12,058
1991 22,632
1992 32,106
1993 31,016
1994 25,634
1995 21,933
1996 21,803
1997 19,892
1998 19,647
1999 21,611
2000 21,550
2001 23,477

Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average time was for a bankrupt to be discharged in each of the last five years. [40363)

Miss Melanie Johnson

Bankrupts are discharged under the terms of the section 279 of the Insolvency Act 1986. Bankrupts are generally discharged three years after the commencement of the bankruptcy except in the following circumstancesWhere the court has issued a certificate for summary administration of the bankrupt's estate (and that has not been revoked before discharge), the bankrupt will be discharged two years after the commencement of the bankruptcy. Where an individual has been an undischarged bankrupt at any time in the period 15 years ending with the commencement of the bankruptcy or where an individual is subject to a criminal bankruptcy order, an application for discharge has to be made to the court, but not until at least five years after the commencement of the bankruptcy. The court can suspend these discharge provisions where it is satisfied that an undercharged bankrupt is failing to co-operate with his trustee and/or the official receiver.

Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average time taken was by the Official Receiver to complete his inquiries into bankrupts in each of the last five years. [40364]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The Insolvency Service does not hold statistics on the amount of time taken to complete inquires; this is largely dependent on the complexity of the case. The Insolvency Service has set targets for the percentage of reports to creditors to be issued within certain time limits. During the last five years The Service has issued of reports to creditors within 8 weeks and 12 weeks of the bankruptcy order respectively as follows:

Per cent.
Year ended Eight weeks 12Weeks
31 March 2001 99.3 99.6
31 March 2000 98.7 99.8
31 March 1999 98.2 99.7
31 March 1998 98.1 99.5
31 March 1997 98.3 99.6