§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 20 January, Official Report c. 85–6, what is the number of new small firms coming into registration for value added tax as compared with the number going bankrupt at the most recent date for which such figures are available.
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§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 2 February 1981, c. 34]: Separate figures in respect of new small firms are not available, but in the period 1 January 1980–31 December 1980 the total number of new registrations for value added tax was 171,547.
Similarly, the number of registrations cancelled as a result of insolvency is not available, but is estimated to be in the order of 10,000 in the same period.