§ 80. Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many businesses were started during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeIn 1987, the latest year for which figures have been published, the estimated number of new registrations for value added tax was 205,000. The net increase in the number of VAT registered businesses in 1987 was 45,000, or nearly 900 a week on average. The indications are that the rate of increase during 1988 has been faster.