§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many proceedings in the public interest for the disqualification of company directors(a) were brought and (b) resulted in a disqualification in each year since 1997; and how many disqualifications were of directors of companies with (i) less than and (ii) more than 250 employees. [143041]
§ Mr. SutcliffeListed as follows are the total number of proceedings brought, in the public interest, for the disqualification of directors and the outcome in disqualification orders or undertakings.
Proceedings brought Number of disqualifications 1997–98 1,419 1,267 1998–99 1,332 1,284 1999–2000 1,497 1,540 2000–01 1.456 1,548 2001–02 1,575 1,761 2002–03 1,775 1,594 The table shows the number of Disqualification Orders and Undertakings (2001–02 onwards) made under Section 6 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act. On information obtained from redundancy payments; there are no figures for the number of employees for companies of disqualified directors and the answer to the (i) and (ii) could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.