Insolvency Service (Hansard, 20 March 1997)

§ Mr. Lang

Against the Insolvency Service's planning assumption that compulsory insolvencies will total 27,500 in the year to 31 March 1998, I have set it the target of completing the same number with no more than 9 per cent. of uncompleted cases being more than 36 months old. I have also set it the target of reducing the unit cost of bankruptcy and compulsory liquidation case administration in 1997–98 by 3 per cent. The service's investigative resources have been maintained at current levels and I would therefore expect it to continue to take proceedings for the disqualification of unfit directors and to report on cases of criminal misconduct the levels achieved in the year 31 March 1997.

In addition, I have set the service the following quality of service targets for 1997–98:

to report to creditors on assets and liabilities within eight weeks in at least 90 per cent. of call cases; and within 12 weeks in 98 per cent. of all cases;
to hold the initial meeting of creditors within 12 weeks in 90 per cent. of all cases and within four months in 98 per cent. of all cases;
to submit reports within 10 months in at least 90 per cent. of bankruptcy cases and 80 per cent. of company liquidation cases where there is evidence of criminality;
to submit disqualification reports within 15 months in at least 80 per cent. of cases where there is evidence of unfit conduct by directors; and
to check and action at least 95 per cent. of Insolvency Services account payment requisitions within five days or by the due date.

In addition, I expect the service to action 95 per cent. of invoices for payment within 30 days of receipt and the agency chief executive to reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.