§ 82. Mr. KnapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what improvements in the survival rate of small firms has occurred since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeThe best available data on the number of small businesses that exist at any one time are provided by VAT registrations and deregistrations. They show no change in the lifespan of registered firms since 1979, although since that time there has been a rising number of registrations and an average net increase of 500 businesses a week.