§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new businesses have been created in the past five years as a proportion of the number lost; what were the comparable figures for 1974 to 1979; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthBetween the end of 1984 and the end of 1989, there were an estimated 1,082,000 new registrations for VAT, 29 per cent. greater than the number of deregistrations. Between the end of 1974 and the end of 1979, there were an estimated 809,000 new registrations for VAT, 12 per cent. greater than the number of deregistrations.