The first in a new series of File on 4, tagged Exploiting the Bankruptcy Laws, saw presenter Julian O'Halloran examining the rise of pre-packs enabled by the 2002 Enterprise Act.

O'Halloran argued that weaknesses in the system enabled company directors to dispose of debts unfairly.

The show opened with the high-profile recent case of retail giant USC, which was sold in a pre-pack to a company controlled by the directors of the failed business.

However, in a sign of how prevalent the use of pre-packs has become in print, the industry took centre stage for the majority of the programme.

The show became more of an investigation into the operations of Media and Print Investments (MPI) than a discussion of pre-packs, with Mike Dolan being grilled on missing pension contributions and losses to suppliers.

Ann Field of Unite was interviewed attacking MPI and its brief and devastating tenure in the print industry.

One haulier, who lost £54k in the MPI debacle, described how he had been forced to postpone his retirement as a result of losses incurred in the closure of Goodman Baylis.

Dolan responded: "I obviously feel bad for anyone who loses money as a result of an administration."

However, he said that he did not work in the companies on an operational level.

O'Halloran went on to press Dolan on whether issuing post-dated cheques that were never to be paid after the group went into administration was a deliberate attempt to avoid paying suppliers.

Dolan said that assertion was "altering perceptions after the event", adding that it was "inconceivable" and was a "misinterpretation of events".

Worryingly the programme featured a self-confessed asset stripper. While he has not operated in the print industry, he said that the Enterprise Act was a "pirates charter" adding that "cash and asset stripping has returned with a vengeance, aided by the government".

The show finished with Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire Peter Luff predicting that pre-pack administrations could drive the economy into deeper recession.

To listen to the show, click here (the section focusing on the print industry begins around 20mins in).