Scottish Insolvency Statistics: April to June 2019 (2019-20 Quarter 1)

*Issued on behalf of Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB)* 

Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) has released official statistics reporting personal and company insolvencies in Scotland for the first quarter (April to June 2019) of 2019-20 and final estimates for the 2018-19 financial year.

Scottish Insolvency Statistics for April to June 2019 (2019-20 Q1)

There were 3,520 personal insolvencies (bankruptcies and protected trust deeds (PTDs)) in Scotland in 2019-20 Q1, more than the 3,216 personal insolvencies in the quarter in the previous year (2018-19 Q1).

A total of 1,184 bankruptcies awarded during this quarter, a 5.1% decrease on the same quarter in 2018-19. PTDs increased by 18.6% to 2,336 over the same period.

There were 738 debt payment programmes (DPPs) approved under the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) compared with 646 in the same quarter of 2018-19.

A total of around £9.3 million was repaid through DAS during this quarter, similar to the £9.4 million repaid in 2018-19 Q1.

The number of Scottish registered companies becoming insolvent or entering receivership decreased in the first quarter of 2019-20, with 239 companies becoming insolvent compared with 245 in 2018-19 Q1. There were 137 members’ voluntary liquidations (solvent liquidations) in 2019-20 Q1 compared with 141 in 2018-19 Q1.

Scottish insolvency statistics in 2018-19

Final statistics show that in 2018-19 personal insolvencies in Scotland increased by 20.6% to 12,788 from 10,602 in 2017-18.

Personal insolvencies rose for the third consecutive year but remain below levels seen between 2006-07 and 2013-14.

The increase in personal insolvencies in 2018-19 was due to PTDs, which increased by 32.8% on the previous year.

In 2018-19, there were 2,544 DPPs approved under the DAS, 226 more than a year earlier. In 2018-19, £37 million was repaid from debtors under DAS compared with £37.6 million in 2017-18.

Corporate insolvencies increased from 884 in 2017-18 to 967 in 2018-19.

The figures released today were produced in accordance with the professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Background

• A full statement of Scottish insolvency statistics for the first quarter of 2019-20 is available: https://www.aib.gov.uk/about-aib/statistics-data/quarterly-reports
• Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland is available: https://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About
• Accountant in Bankruptcy supervises all personal insolvencies in Scotland and administers those bankruptcies where appointed. Insolvent individuals in Scotland are subject to bankruptcy (sequestration) or enter protected trust deeds (PTDs) under the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985. The 1985 Act was amended by the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1993 and on 1 April 2008, part 1 of the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 came into force making significant changes to some aspects of bankruptcy in Scotland. Changes included the introduction of LILA, a route into bankruptcy for people with low income and low assets. The changes also took a number of processes out of the Scottish Court system, reducing costs and freeing up court time.
• Protected trust deeds (PTDs) are voluntary arrangements, where the debtor passes their estate to an insolvency practitioner who arranges to repay part of the debt to creditors on the debtor’s behalf. This is similar to Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs) in England and Wales; although there are important differences in the way they are set up and administered.
• The Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) is administered by Accountant in Bankruptcy. Debt Payment Programmes approved under DAS allow individuals to repay their debts in full over an extended period of time whilst providing protection from enforcement by their creditors and safeguarding their home as long as mortgage payments are maintained.
• Details of bankruptcies, PTDs, liquidations and receiverships are found on the register of insolvencies, which is maintained by Accountant in Bankruptcy.
• Accountant in Bankruptcy is also responsible for receiving, extracting and recording information from certain forms relating to company liquidations and receiverships. The legislation appropriate to liquidations and receiverships is contained in the Insolvency Act 1986 and the Insolvency (Scotland) Rules 1986.
• Further information regarding insolvency in Scotland, including legislation, can be found on the Accountant in Bankruptcy’s website.