§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many firms went bankrupt in the first quarter of 1982 and the first quarter of 1983;
(2) how many personal bankruptcies there were in the first quarter of 1982 and the first quarter of 1983.
§ Mr. FletcherThe available information is as follows:
Insolvencies in England and Wales Bankruptcies* Company Liquidations† 1st quarter 1982 1,396 3,122 1st quarter 1983 1,767 3,397 * plus deeds of arrangement—the figures are before consolidations and rescissions. † compulsory and creditors' voluntary liquidations. The bankruptcy figures cover all individuals and partnerships. Separate figures for the self-employed and other individuals are unreliable on a quarterly basis: in recent years, the former have accounted for between 75 and 80 per cent. of total bankruptcies after consolidations and rescissions.