§ 25. Mr. BowisTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new registrations for value added tax by small firms were made in 1988; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeIn 1987, the latest year for which figures have been published, the net increase in the number of VAT-registered businesses was 45,000, or nearly 900 a week on average. The indications are that the rate of increase during 1988 has been faster. The vast majority of VAT-registered businesses are small.