§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many SMEs have been launched in each year since 1996(a) nationally, (b) within Teesside and (c) in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency. [19979]
§ Alan JohnsonThe information held relates to businesses that have registered for VAT. The table shows how many businesses registered, year on year, since 1996 throughout the United Kingdom. We are unable to provide figures for Teesside or the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency, but can provide those for the unitary authorities of Middlesbrough; Redcar and Cleveland and the former county of Cleveland.
Innovation Fund, exist to provide direct financial assistance to support new investment. Work on cluster developments, reclamation and re-use of land and on promoting the leisure and tourist industries is also intended to attract investment to Lancashire.