§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many farmers have been declared bankrupt in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous five years.
§ Mr. EyreSeparate figures for agriculture are not available, but combined figures for agriculture, horticulture and fishing for England and Wales are as follows:
Year ending 30 June Bankruptcies and deeds of arrangement* Company liquidations† 1974 … … 68 11 1975 … … 127 28 1976 … … 172 47 1977 … … 96‡ 21 1978 … … 65 26 1979 … … 42 30 * Receiving orders, administration orders and deeds of arrangement made during each year, less those consolidated or rescinded before the end of the year; these categories relate to self-employed individuals and partnerships. †Compulsory and creditors' voluntary liquidations. ‡In December 1976 there were substantial increases in some of the monetary limits in bankruptcy proceedings and in the deposits on bankruptcy petitions which led to a drop in numbers o bankruptcies.