HC Deb 31 January 1994 vol 236 cc591-2W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been spent on information technology in each of the last five years within the Insolvency Service; and what is the projected expenditure over the next five years.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

The expenditure on information technology on behalf of the Insolvency Service during the last and next five years is in the table:

£ million
1989–90 1.9
1990–91 2.0
1991–92 1.5
1992–93 3.0
1993–94 5.2
1994–95 3.5
1995–96 2.6
1996–97 2.5
1997–98 2.5
1998–99 2.5

The current and earlier years figures include, where appropriate, capital expenditure paid, on behalf of the Insolvency Service, from the DTI's capital computer budget.

Figures for 1994–95 onwards include committed current and capital expenditure plus minor amounts for project enhancements. Future major projects are excluded as these are yet to be quantified or approved.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bankruptcy prosecutions were successfully obtained by the Insolvency Service for each of the last five years; and how many of those cases in each year were prosecuted under each of the relevant sections of the Insolvency Act 1986.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

The numbers of bankrupts successfully prosecuted by my Department on reports received from the Insolvency Service were 249 in 1989, 209 in 1990, 220 in 1991 and 192 in 1992. The total for 1993 will not be known until all court returns have been received.

Information on the number of convictions obtained under the relevant sections of the Insolvency Act 1986 and associated legislation is regularly published in the Insolvency Service general annual report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.