HC Deb 18 March 1986 vol 94 cc105-6W
Mr. Gareth Wardell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report for the latest year for which information is available for each hon. and right hon. Member, the arithmetic mean in days that his Department took to reply to letters.

Insolvencies
Year England and Wales Scotland
Company liquidations Bankruptcies Company liquidations Sequestrations (equivalent of bankruptcies)
1979 4,537 3,500 238 106
1980 6,890 4,038 379 150
1981 8,596 5,151 438 181
1982 12,067 5,700 503 213

Mr. Channon

The full information which the hon. Gentleman requests is not available other than at disproportionate cost.

In general, however, replies by the Secretary of State to letters from right hon. and hon. Members are dispatched within 10 to 15 working days from receipt of the original letter.