HC Deb 06 December 1988 vol 143 c133W
14. Mr. Fishburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of new registrations for value added tax in 1987–88.

Mr. Cope

In 1987, the latest year for which figures have been published, the number of VAT-registered businesses in the United Kingdom increased by 45,000, or nearly 900 a week on average. The indications are that the rate of increase during 1988 has been faster.