Despite the reported difficulties facing the industry, the printing and paper sector has had far fewer directors disqualified than other industries.

Between April and September last year 31 (or 3% of the total) disqualifications were from the print, paper and publishing industries, while construction and demolition was the highest with 103 (11%), followed by textile and clothing manufacture with 73 (8%).
In the same period a total of 935 disqualifications were recorded; 35% of these were in London and the South East, 20% in the North and 13% in the Midlands.

The DTI claimed that its fast-track disqualification process for unscrupulous directors was working, after the latest biannual figures showed an increase of 24% on the same time in 2000.

Competition and consumer affairs minister Melanie Johnson said: It is vital that the business community and consumers are protected from irresponsible, incompetent or rogue directors at the earliest opportunity. Dodgy directors tarnish the image of the vast majority of legitimate businesses.

Last year the Insolvency Act 2000 was amended to streamline the disqualification process (PrintWeek, 20 April).

Story by John Davies