HC Deb 05 March 1996 vol 273 cc135-6W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to make it an offence to seek to induce a creditor to delay instituting an action for bankruptcy against a debtor solely for the reason that a successful action would disqualify the debtor from membership of the House. [18863]

Mr. Oppenheim

No. It is for creditors to decide if and when they should institute bankruptcy proceedings.

Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people have been declared bankrupt in the past three years for debts totalling(a) less than £5,000, (b) £10,000, (c) £20,000, (d) £50,000, (e) £100,000 and (f) £1,000,000 or over or such classification as is available. [18557]

Mr. Oppenheim

[holding answer 1 March 1996]: The number of bankruptcy orders in England and Wales in the last three years was as follows:

  • 1993: 31,016
  • 1994: 25,634
  • 1995: 21,933.

Information on the size of debts could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.