asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how successful has been the operation of the criminal bankruptcy provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 1967; and if he will make a statement.

We are in the process of consulting those concerned about the workings of the criminal bankruptcy provisions, originally in the Criminal Justice Act 1972, now consolidated in Sections 39–41 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973. Our general impression is that they are working satisfactorily, though the number of criminal bankruptcy orders made so far has been fewer than was originally expected.