HC Deb 15 May 1985 vol 79 cc127-8W
Mr. Heddle

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies went into voluntary liquidation (a) because they had ceased trading and (b) because they had been purchased as off the shelf and were no longer required, for each year since 1979 to the latest available date.

Mr. Fletcher

The total number of companies in Great Britain which notified their voluntary liquidation in each year was as follows:

Year
1979 6,899
1980 8,411
1981 9,991
1982 12,809
1983 12,908
1984 12,718

No records are maintained to identify the reasons for such liquidations.

Mr. Heddle

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies were compulsorily wound up for reasons of non-compliance with statutory documentation for each year since 1979 to the latest available date.

Mr. Fletcher

None. A significant number of companies were removed from the register in each year, however, under the provisions of section 353 of the Companies Act 1948*, where the registrar had reason to believe that they were no longer in business or in operation; such action normally follows failure by the companies concerned to respond to reminder letters in respect of outstanding statutory documents. The numbers struck-off on this basis in each year for Great Britain are as follows:

Year
1979 18,734
1980 21,135
1981 23,245
1982 47,861
1983 35,172
1984 44,451
* now sections 652 and 653 of the Companies Act 1985