§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new registrations there were for value-added tax in 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.