§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms have gone bankrupt in the Huddersfield travel-to-work area since May 1979.
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§ Mr. FletcherI regret that figures are not available for the exact period requested nor for the Huddersfield travelto-work area. The nearest available is the number of bankruptcy cases handled by the Huddersfield county court, which totalled 75 in the 5 years 1979–83 plus a provisional figure of 18 in January/September 1984. Bankruptcy figures apply to all individuals and partnerships but, for England and Wales as a whole, between 75 and 80 per cent. relate to unincorporated businesses. Insolvent companies are subject to liquidation rather than bankruptcy proceedings and I regret that company liquidation figures are available only as totals for England and Wales.