20 Trustee’s duties on receipt of list of assets and liabilities.S
[F1(1)When the interim trustee has received the statement of assets and liabilities, he shall, as soon as practicable, prepare a statement of the debtor’s affairs so far as within the knowledge of the interim trustee and shall indicate in the statement of the debtor’s affairs whether, in his opinion, the debtor’s assets are unlikely to be sufficient to pay any dividend whatsoever in respect of the debts mentioned in paragraphs (e) to (h) of section 51(1) of this Act.]
(2)The interim trustee shall, not later than 4 days before the date fixed for the statutory meeting, send to the Accountant in Bankruptcy—
(a)[F1the statement] of assets and liabilities; and
(b)a copy of the F2. . . statement of the debtor’s affairs; and
(c)written comments by the interim trustee indicating what in his opinion are the causes of the insolvency and to what extent the conduct of the debtor may have contributed to the insolvency.
(3)The written comments made under subsection (2)(c) above shall be absolutely privileged.
(4)The interim trustee may request—
(a)the debtor to appear before him and to give information relating to his assets, his dealings with them or his conduct in relation to his business or financial affairs; or
(b)the debtor’s spouse or any other person who the interim trustee believes can give such information to give that information,
and if the interim trustee considers it necessary he may apply to the sheriff for an order requiring the debtor, spouse or other person to appear before the sheriff for private examination.
(5)Subsections (2) to (4) of section 44 and sections 46 and 47 of this Act shall apply, subject to any necessary modifications, in respect of private examination under subsection (4) above as they apply in respect of private examination under the said subsection (2).
[F3(5A)Subsections (2) and (3) above do not apply in any case where the Accountant in Bankruptcy is the interim trustee.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 20(1) substituted (1.4.1993, subject to savings in arts. 4, 5 of S.I. 1993/438) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(3), Sch. 1 para. 8(2) (with s. 12(6)); S.I. 1993/438, art.3
Words in s. 20(2)(a) substituted (1.4.1993, subject to savings in arts. 4, 5 of S.I. 1993/438) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(3), Sch. 1 para. 8(3) (with s. 12(6)); S.I. 1993/438, art.3
F2Word “preliminary” in s. 20(2)(b) repealed (1.4.1993, subject to savings in arts. 4, 5 of S.I. 1993/438) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(4), Sch.2 (with s. 12(6)); S.I. 1993/438, art.3
F3S. 20(5A) inserted (1.4.1993, subject to savings in arts. 4, 5 of S.I. 1993/438) by 1993 c. 6, s. 11(3), Sch. 1 para. 8(4) (with s. 12(6)); S.I. 1993/438, art.3