HC Deb 27 July 1983 vol 46 c491W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked 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. Fletcher

The 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.