AN Oldham insolvency expert has hailed the government’s decision to extend measures put in place in April to protect businesses from going bust.

The measures include a ban on the use of winding-up petitions and changes to help more struggling companies to benefit from a moratorium procedure which could give them a breathing space to consider a rescue plan.

Allan Cadman, who is North West chair of R3, the trade body for the insolvency and restructuring profession, said: “The chancellor’s decision to temporarily extend his Covid insolvency measures, coupled with the other aspects of the new support package, will be welcome news to many North West businesses.

“The pandemic has hit businesses in a way that no-one could have imagined. The temporary insolvency measures, combined with the furlough scheme and emergency business loans, have played an important role in preventing insolvency levels of the size and scale we would expect in this economic climate.”

Allan, who is also a partner at insolvency firm Poppleton & Appleby, said the temporary relaxation of entry requirements for the new moratorium procedure would also help to facilitate the rescue of otherwise-viable businesses.

However, he added: “While the chancellor’s announcement will make a real difference in the coming months, these measures can’t be prolonged indefinitely, and the government will face a number of questions when this extension ends.

“What will the government’s approach be to the mounting level of corporate debt in the economy? What further flexibility will HMRC provide to Covid-hit businesses which need extra time to pay their debts?

“We would welcome HMRC adopting a constructive approach to sensible, well-structured restructuring proposals. They are an important stakeholder in insolvency and restructuring procedures and their support will be very significant.

“If management are concerned about their options, they should not be embarrassed about taking advice from an R3 member, most of whom will provide an initial consultation for free.”