§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many new businesses have been created since May 1979 in Wales; how many new jobs have followed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorWe have estimated from information in VAT records that approximately 11,300 new businesses were created in Wales in 1980 and 1981. Similar statistics are not available for earlier years. We do not have figures for the resultant new jobs because this information is not collected. The available information was published inBritish Business on 24 September, copies of which are in the Library.