HC Deb 30 July 1982 vol 28 cc785-6W
Mr. Ashley

asked 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 Morris

asked 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. Vaughan

I 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:

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.