§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many reports and complaints of the unfit conduct of directors were submitted to the Insolvency Service in 1990; in how many cases legal proceedings were undertaken; and how many disqualification orders against directors were made in 1990.
§ Mr. RedwoodDuring 1990 the Insolvency Service received 4,062 reports alleging aspects of unfit conduct by 107W directors of insolvent companies. Proceedings were commenced in 488 cases, disqualification orders were made against 286 persons and at 31 December 1990 a total of 527 cases were waiting to be heard by the courts.
§ Mr. GregoryTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in how many court cases the Insolvency Service has been successful.
§ Mr. Redwood[holding answer 15 July 1991]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 20 June, Official Report, columns 283–84. I would point out however that the figure of 672 given in the second line of the second paragraph of that answer was wrongly printed and should have been 627.
In addition to the criminal matters detailed in that answer the Insolvency Service had, at 30 June 1991, obtained 1,009 disqualification orders against individual directors of failed companies.