HL Deb 19 February 1990 vol 516 c133WA
Lord Williams of Elvel

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the current rate of failure amongst small businesses.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment (Lord Strathclyde)

It is not possible to state what the current failure rate of small businesses is, but it is estimated that just over one third of businesses registered for VAT leave the register again within three years.