The number of people being declared bankrupt is rising.
Bankruptcies in the first three months of the year are 3% higher than a year ago and 55% greater than 2008.
The Insolvency and Trustees Service says bankruptcies can take time to work their way through the system.
The agency says bankruptcies can reflect events that took place up to two years ago.
Buddle Findlay insolvency lawyer Scott Barker expects bankruptcies to keep rising.
Figures a year ago showed 5% of personal bankruptcies come from business failures.
Mr Barker says banks are restricting credit to small companies and this is putting them under pressure.
