§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Minister for Trade how many company liquidations there have been (a) in North Staffordshire and (b) throughout the United Kingdom in each of the last three years and the first six months of 1982; and in which industries they occurred.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Minister for Trade how many company liquidations there have been (a) in Greater Manchester and (b) in the United Kingdom as a whole in each of the last three years and the first six months of 1982; and in which industries they occurred.
§ Dr. VaughanI regret that figures are not compiled for individual areas. Nor are the figures for Northern Ireland subdivided into industries and therefore an industrial breakdown for the United Kingdom as a whole cannot be given. The 1979 and 1980 figures for company liquidations in the United Kingdom, together with an industrial breakdown for Great Britain were published in "British Business" dated 24 April 1981. The information for the periods since then is as follows:786W
Company liquidations* in the United Kingdom 1981 1st half 1982 9,133 6,385
Company liquidations* in Great Britain Industry 1981 1st Quarter 1982† Agriculture and horticulture 64 17 Manufacturing: Food, drink and tobacco 76 20 Chemicals 73 12 Metals and engineering 944 314 Textiles and clothing 695 307 Timber and furniture 217 89 Paper, printing and publishing 280 108 Other manufacturing 521 204 Total manufacturing 2,806 1,054 Construction 1,069 378 Road haulage 478 192 Wholesaling: Consumer goods 420 170 Non-consumer goods 202 73 Retailing: Food 174 61 Non-food 804 313 Financial and professional services 1,102 323 Hotels 213 81 Restaurants Garages 358 130 Other consumer services 390 143 Other industries 954 310 Total 9,034 3,245 * Compulsory and creditors' voluntary liquidations—the two types which involve insolvency. † Latest period available.