§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will seek powers to place on the liquidators of insolvent firms an obligation to take all possible steps to safeguard the jobs of the greatest possible number of employees.
§ Mr. ShoreI have been asked to reply.
No. The consultative document on the Employment Protection Bill recently issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment contains proposals for safeguarding the position of employees and ensuring full and reasonably prompt payment of their claims. Legislation will be proposed in due course. Further, the rights of employees in an insolvency are being considered in the context of company and insolvency law generally.