§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the number of bankruptcy cases dealt with by county courts in (a) the Northern region, (b) Durham county and (c) Bishop Auckland parliamentary constituency for each of the last five years, and for the first six months of 1981; what has been the percentage change in each year for each area; and what has been the percentage change in each area in the first six months of 1981 compared with the same period in 1980.
Bankruptcies: Net Cases Administered Northern Region Durham County (Darlington and Durham County Courts) Durham County Court Number Percentage change on previous year Number Percentage change on previous year Number 1976 195 -12 32 -3 16 1977 129 * 32 * 16 1978 140 +9 32 — 16 1979 110 -21 20 -37 13 1980 151 +37 30 +50 18 *There is a break in continuity between 1976 and 1977 because of the increases in December 1976 in monetary limits in bankruptcy proceedings and in deposits on petitions.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the number of bankruptcies and insolvencies in England and Wales for the past five years, and for the first six months of 1981; what has been the percentage change in each year; and what has been the percentage change in the first six months of 1981 compared with the same period in 1980.
§ Mr. Eyre[pursuant to his reply, 7 July 1981]: Annual totals of bankruptcies and company liquidations in England and Wales for the years 1976–80 are included in table 1 on insolvencies published in British Business on 24 April 1981, page 823. It should be noted that in the case of bankruptcies there is a break in continuity between 1976 and 1977 because of increases made in December 1976 in monetary limits in bankruptcy proceedings and in deposits on petition.
The figures requested for the first six months of 1981 are not yet available.