HC Deb 21 June 1995 vol 262 cc273-4W
Ms Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his Department's definition of a small business and a medium-sized business; [29574]

(2) in which sectors of the economy (a) small businesses and (b) medium-sized businesses are predominantly to be found. [29577]

Mr. Gwilym Jones

There is a wide range of definitions of small and medium-sized businesses used in practice, each valid in its own context. For example, the annual small firms merit award for research competition is aimed at businesses with up to 50 employees, whereas eligibility for the small firms loan guarantee scheme is determined by both turnover and employee numbers, the thresholds for which vary from sector to sector. Data on the number of VAT-based enterprises in Wales by industry and turnover sizeband are published in table 3E of Business Monitor PA1003 which is published annually by the Central Statistical Office. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Ms Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many people were employed by(a) small businesses and (b) medium-sized businesses in each of the last 10 years; and if he will break these figures down by gender; [29576]

(2) how many (a) small businesses and (b) medium-sized businesses were started up in each of the last 10 years; and if he will break these figures down by gender of the entrepreneur. [29575]

Mr. Gwilym Jones

There is no single official definition of a small or medium-sized business. However, data are available for Wales for 1984, 1987, 1989 and 1991 on the number of persons employed in census of employment data units, which roughly correspond to workplaces, broken down by size of employment. While comprehensive information on the number of business start-ups in Wales is not available, a good guide to trends in business start-ups is given by the number of new registrations for VAT. Data are available on the number of VAT registrations in Wales, for each year 1980 to 1993. The vast majority of VAT registrations are for small firms. All these data can be obtained from the NOMIS database through the Library of the House. Information by gender is not available.