§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to introduce legislation to require the results of the Official Receiver's investigations into companies to be published.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe Secretary of State has no plans to introduce legislation to require the Official Receiver to publish the results of his investigations. Under the provisions of the Insolvency Act 1986, the Official Receiver has a statutory duty to investigate the affairs of companies in compulsory liquidation and report prima facie evidence of criminal misconduct to officials at Insolvency Service headquarters. He also has a duty under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 to report unfitted conduct by directors of companies in compulsory liquidation to the Secretary of State. The Official Receiver is required to make a report to creditors and contributories on the proceedings in the liquidation and the state of the company's affairs and to file a copy of that report in court.