HC Deb 31 October 1990 vol 178 c609W
78. Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the change in the number of registered businesses since 1979.

Mr. Redwood

In the 10 years to the end of 1989 the number of live puplic and private companies registered in Great Britain rose from 727,000 to 1,014,000. During the same period the total number of businesses registered for VAT in Great Britain, including sole proprietors, partnerships etc. as well as companies, increased from 1,246,000 to 1,611,000.