THE number of company directors who have been disqualified from holding such a role in Scotland has jumped by almost 50 per cent.

A total of 72 people were banned from holding directorships in 2013/14, up from 49 the previous year, and the number of notices warning that the Insolvency Service is preparing to take such action has doubled in three years.

However, the proportion of cases north of the border is still far lower than across the UK and Claire Massie, a partner in Pinsent Masons specialising in restructuring and insolvency, said the latest figures represented a case of "Scotland playing catch-up" as the Insolvency Service cracks down on rogue directors.

She added the figures were "certainly a warning for directors that their behaviour and corporate actions will be subject to ongoing scrutiny".