§ Mr. VazTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of travel agents in the United Kingdom. [40854]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Keith Vaz, dated 7 May 1998:
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the number of travel agents in the United Kingdom.Counts of numbers of enterprises in the United Kingdom are produced annually from the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR). This is a register of businesses in the United Kingdom that is used for conducting statistical inquiries. The IDBR is based on VAT traders registered with HM Customs and Excise and on PAYE employers (from the Inland Revenue). The register covers more than 98 per cent. of economic activity but does exclude very small traders; those operating below the VAT threshold and with no employees.The number of VAT-based enterprises in the United Kingdom in 1997 classified to travel agencies was 4,192.