HC Deb 19 February 1964 vol 689 cc221-2W
Mr. Denzil Freeth

asked the Secretary of State for Industry. Trade and Regional Development how many retail grocery businesses went bankrupt in 1957 and in the last calendar year for which the figure is available; and if he will express the latter as a percentage of the firmer.

Mr. Heath

The numbers of bankruptcies of retailers of grocery and provisions for the years 1957 and 1962—

guard the interests of the present welfare officers. Meanwhile there are arrangements for adjusting case-loads and for the payment of allowances to welfare officers to enable them to obtain clerical assistance, and I have no reason to think that these arrangements do not in general work satisfactorily.