HC Deb 10 February 1994 vol 237 cc388-9W
Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many new businesses were started in the past year; how many people they employ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin

[holding answer 9 February 1994]: Estimates of numbers of small business start-ups are produced by Barclays and NatWest. Their latest estimates indicate that there were around 400,000 new start-ups in 1993.

Estimates of employment in new firms are not available.