Insolvency Act 1985

142 Failure of meeting to appoint trustee

(1) If a meeting summoned under section 140 or 141 above is held but no appointment of a person as trustee of the bankrupt's estate is made, it shall be the duty of the official receiver to decide whether to refer the need for an appointment to the Secretary of State.

(2) On a reference made in pursuance of a decision under subsection (1) above, the Secretary of State shall either make an appointment or decline to make one.

(3) If—

(a) the official receiver decides not to refer the need for an appointment to the Secretary of State; or

(b) on such a reference the Secretary of State declines to make an appointment,

the official receiver shall give notice of his decision or, as the case may be, of the Secretary of State's decision to the court.

(4) As from the giving of a notice under subsection (3) above in a case in which no notice has been given under section 140(2) above, the official receiver shall be trustee of the bankrupt's estate.