§ Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied with the adequacy of present procedures for debt collection in Northern Ireland; and how many representations he has received expressing dissatisfaction with the operation of the system, and especially of procedures under the Emergency Provisions Act.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees,pursuant to his reply [Official Report. 17th May 1976; Vol. 911, c. 375–6], gave the following information:
I am satisfied that the procedures established under the Judgements (Enforcement) Act (NI) 1969 and the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (NI) 1971 are a considerable improvement on those they replaced, but there may yet be room for improvement. Recommendations in this respect have been received from the legal profession and the NI Finance Houses Association, and helpful suggestions have also been made informally from time to time on behalf of public authorities and Government Departments. The latter have been concerned mainly with the procedures under the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (NI) 1971. I keep the working of these Acts under review.
§ Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many debtor's summonses and how many bankruptcies, respectively, there have been in 1973, 1974 and 1975 and until the latest available date in 1976; how many of these emanate from the Inland Revenue; and whether he has any statistical evidence of a move away from the procedures of the Judgements Enforcement Office.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th May 1976; Vol. 911, c. 375–6], gave the following information:
592WThe figures requested as at 13th May 1976 are as follows:
Period Debtors Summonses Bankruptcies 1973 5 (1) 19 (1) 1974 17 (7) 26 (13) 1975 72 (27) 37 (22) 1976 26 (9) 16 (6) The figures in brackets indicate the number emanating from the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. I have no statistical evidence that the usefulness of the Judgements Enforcement Office is decreasing.