§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many insolvency examiners have been dismissed since 1990 for failing to achieve the relevant accountancy qualifications. [32609]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansFour examiners have been dismissed as a result of failing to pass the required accountancy examinations during their two-year probationary period.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the method by which, after a meeting of creditors has failed to appoint a trustee in bankruptcy or a liquidator of a company in liquidation the Secretary of State determines the identity of the insolvency practitioner who is to be appointed as a trustee or a liquidator under(a) section 295 or (b) 137 of the Insolvency Act 1986, with particular reference to whether the insolvency practitioner who is appointed is required to be located within the same region as the bankrupt or the company in question. [32320]
§ Mr. EvansEach official receiver maintains a rota of insolvency practitioners within the locality of his office who are willing to accept appointments by the Secretary of State. The criteria for entry on to the rota are that the insolvency practitioner should have a permanently staffed office with insolvency personnel in regular attendance within the locality of, or conveniently accessible to, the local court. Generally speaking, where no trustee or liquidator is nominated at a meeting of creditors and if the official receiver considers it desirable that one be appointed, he will seek that appointment by reference to his local rota.
During 1994 a special unit was set up in Manchester, on a temporary basis, to complete the administration of cases remaining open as a result of the high level of insolvencies of earlier years. In such cases where, some time after the making of the order, there were sufficient assets to enable a distribution to creditors to be made, local practitioners were appointed to carry out that work.