THE number of Scottish corporate insolvencies in the three months to September was up by more than four per cent on the same period of last year, official figures show.

Figures published yesterday by the Accountant in Bankruptcy show there were 225 corporate insolvencies in the July to September period, up by 4.2 per cent from 216 in the same quarter of last year.

The number of corporate insolvencies in the July to September quarter was also up on the previous three months.

The AiB figures show there were 200 corporate insolvencies in the three months to June.

Eileen Blackburn, who chairs the technical committee of insolvency trade body R3 in Scotland, said: ““Following on from last quarter, once again we see that corporate insolvencies have risen over the [three months to September], and they are higher than in the same quarter last year.

“The overall business environment is unsettled, and the proportion of firms at greater-than-average risk of insolvency has risen every month since January of this year, according to R3’s research.”

The insolvency statistics are based on the dates insolvencies are registered on AiB’s administrative system.

The AiB noted that there was a” time lag between the dates when a corporate insolvency is awarded or a member voluntary liquidation is registered and when AiB receives notice”.