§ 24. Mr. NorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many businesses were started during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeIn 1987, the latest year for which figures have been published, the estimated number of new registrations for value-added tax was 205,000. The net increase in the number of VAT-registered businesses in 1987 was 45,000, or nearly 900 a week on average. The indications are that the rate of increase during 1988 has been faster.