HC Deb 23 April 1970 vol 800 c162W
Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of compulsory liquidations and voluntary liquidations of private and public companies in addition to the number of known instances of closures, takeovers, takeovers of businesses, mergers and amalgamations in which at least one partner has placed but a nominal value on its assets in the first quarter of 1970; and how this figure compares with each quarter and the total for 1969.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts:

The numbers of compulsory and voluntary liquidations of private and public companies in England and Wales in 1969 and the first quarter of 1970 are:

Mr. Murray:

There has been rapid increase in pleasure cruising, canoeing and boating of all kinds as well as in other sports and recreational activities such as walking and nature studies on the British Waterways Board's rivers, canals and reservoirs. This is continuing. The board has made it one of its principal tasks to extend the scope for water-based and leisure pursuits, in cooperation with interested official and private bodies, and it has in the last 12 months made available new areas for water-skiing, dinghy-sailing and fishing. The board takes every opportunity of publicising the potentialities of its waterways for leisure activities, and I do not think any general direction is necessary.