HC Deb 23 April 1996 vol 276 cc69-70W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many manufacturing companies in the west midlands have closed since 1992. [24783]

Mr. John M. Taylor

[holding answer 16 April 1996]: On the basis of VAT registrations data, a total of 4,007 manufacturing firms became individually deregistered— for whatever reason—in the west midlands region during 1993 and 1994. In the same period, 3,354 new manufacturing businesses became deregistered in the region. Figures for 1995 are not yet available.