Insolvency Act 1985

143 Appointment of trustee by Secretary of State

(1) At any time when the official receiver is the trustee of a bankrupt's estate by virtue of any provision of this Chapter other than section 144(1) below he may apply to the Secretary of State for the appointment of a person as trustee of that estate instead of the official receiver.

(2) On an application under subsection (1) above the Secretary of State shall either make an appointment or decline to make one.

(3) An application may be made under subsection (1) above notwithstanding that the Secretary of State has declined to make an appointment either on a previous application under that subsection or on a reference made in pursuance of section 142 above or section 147(4) below.

(4) Where the trustee of a bankrupt's estate has been appointed by the Secretary of State (whether under this section or otherwise), the trustee shall give notice to the bankrupt's creditors of his appointment or, if the court so allows, shall advertise his appointment in accordance with the directions of the court and in that notice or advertisement shall—

(a) state whether he proposes to summon a general meeting of the bankrupt's creditors for the purpose of establishing a committee under section 148 below; and

(b) if he does not propose to summon such a meeting, set out the power of the creditors under this Part to require him to summon one.