asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has received any complaints from depositors in the firm of Barnett Christie Limited, a section 123 bank, in that the company was accepting deposits during mid and late 1978; and whether in the opinion of his Department the company was insolvent at that time.

The Department received one complaint about Barnett Christie Limited and two others were forwarded by hon. Members. The company was wound up by the court in January 1979 on the petition of the then Secretary of State made on 11 December 1978. At that time the Department had formed the view, in the light of investigations, that the company was insolvent and unable to repay its depositors.