§ 28. Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has on the creation of small businesses in the Province.
§ Mr. NeedhamInformation on the number of small businesses created is not available. However VAT registration provide a useful indicator of the numbers of businesses created and in the five-year period from 1985 to 1989 an estimated 18,000 businesses registered for VAT in Northern Ireland. While VAT registration relate to businesses of all sizes the vast majority fall within the small 571W business category. In the same period 9,352 people became self-employed under the Training and Employment Agency's enterprise allowance scheme. Since 1986, LEDU has provided assistance to 2,009 new businesses under its enterprise grant scheme.