§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many 96W firms in the building industry have gone bankrupt in each of the past 12 months; how many were small firms; and how many were large companies.
§ Mr. RidleyOnly quarterly figures are available, which are given below. No size analysis is available but the unincorporated businesses and the companies which have failed have been predominantly small, with assets of less than £20,000.
FAILURES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN ENGLAND AND WALES IN 1970 Unincorporated businesses Companies Bankruptcies Deeds of arrangement Liquidations* First quarter 208 8 211 Second quarter 235 8 242 Third quarter 233 4 147 Fourth quarter 351 10 Not yet available * Compulsory, and creditors' voluntary, liquidations.