HC Deb 19 March 2003 vol 401 cc813-4W
Mr. Dodds

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many small businesses have gone out of business in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. [103255]

Mr. Pearson

The number of insolvency orders (bankruptcy and compulsory winding up) made against individuals and small businesses in each of the last six financial years is as follows:

Financial year Number of insolvency orders
1996–97 411
1997–98 432
1998–99 421
1999–2000 393
2000–01 338
2001–02 265