HC Deb 27 June 1995 vol 262 cc588-9W
Ms Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) small businesses and (b) medium-size businesses were started up in each of the last 10 years; and if he will break these figures down by gender of the entrepreneur. [29579]

Mr. Ancram

[holding reply 21 June 1995]: There is no fully comprehensive means of counting the number of business start-ups in Northern Ireland. However, VAT registrations give a useful indication of the number of new businesses created in any period. The figures set out in the table show the number of VAT registrations during the period 1985–93. Data for 1994 are not yet available. It is not possible to break this information down by gender.

Table 1: Number of VAT registrations in Northern Ireland
Thousands
Year Number of registrations
1985 3.8
1986 3.4
1987 3.5
1988 3.7
1989 4.0
1990 4.3
1991 3.7
1992 3.7
1993 4.0

Notes:

Details of Northern Ireland VAT figures are included in VAT Registration and Deregistrations, County and District Analyses 1980–91 and VAT Registrations and Deregistrations, County and District Analyses 1992–93, copies of which are available in the Library.

Ms Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what initiatives his Department has to assist and encourage women who want to start their own business; and how the success of any initiative is monitored and assessed. [29582]

Mr. Ancram

[holding answer reply 21 June 1995]: The local enterprise development unit funds a series of business start programmes aimed specifically at women throughout Northern Ireland and a women's enterprise programme in the Greater Belfast area. These initiatives are monitored through periodical reviews and the overall success is assessed by the number of participants, the number of business plans which result from the programmes, the percentage of participants starting their own businesses and the number who enter other employment.