§ Mr. Tim SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many companies were registerd at the latest available date; and how many qualified as(a) small and (b) medium-sized for the purposes of section 248 of the Companies Act 1985.
§ Mr. Maude[holding answer 15 May 1989]: There were 1,141,000 companies registered in Great Britain at 8 May 1989. Not all of these are active, but at least 90 per cent. are estimated to be eligible to deliver modified accounts according to the criteria set out in section 248 of the Companies Act 1985. Of these 2 to 3 per cent. are estimated to qualify as medium-sized companies.