§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the total number of businesses officially declared as bankrupt for each of the last 10 years for which statistics are available.
§ Mr. FletcherThe information is as follows:
England and Wales—Number of Business Bankruptcies Year Number 1977 3,151 1978 2,855 1979 2,527 1980 2,810 1981 3,689 1982 4,182 1983 5,155 Figures are given only from 1977 because earlier figures are not comparable, due to substantial increases in the monetary limits in bankruptcy proceedings and deposits on petitions made in December 1976.
The figures are based on receiving orders made during the year, less those consolidated or rescinded before the end of the year, together with administration orders and deeds of arrangement on the same basis.