§ Mr. BellinghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will request the Insolvency Service and Small Business Service to carry out a study into the operation of insolvency law and practice in the construction industry to determine whether measures should be taken to protect small businesses from insolvencies among their creditors and customers. [168916]
§ Mr. SutcliffeThere are no plans for the DTI to carry out a study of this kind but the Specialist Engineering Contractors' Group has consulted the Department about the possible form of a study it is proposing to carry out in this area. We are yet to hear whether the study is under way but will assist as appropriate.