§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new businesses have started up in each of the last six months for which figures are available, and in the years 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988; and what estimate he has of the average number of persons employed by each firm.
§ Mr. CopeThe table gives the date for 1985, 1986 and 1987, the latest year for which figures have been published. Early indications are that the figure for 1988 was greater. Monthly figures are not available. There are no estimates of the numbers employed by these new businesses.
VAT registrations in the United Kingdom: 1985–87 Registrations Thousand 1985 182 1986 191 1987 205