HC Deb 12 March 2001 vol 364 cc455-6W
Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many business failures there were in each of the last 15 years in London. [152190]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 8 March 2001]: The table shows compulsory liquidations and bankruptcies in London for the years 1991 to 2000. The County court allocates an Official Receiver and it is the location of the Official Receiver's office that is recorded, not the location of the business. Official Receiver's offices do not coincide with Government office regions. April 1991 is the earliest available record of regional insolvencies.

Insolvencies in London
Year Company compulsory liquidations Individual bankruptcy Orders1
19912 2,037 1,649
1992 3,268 2,954
1993 2,498 2,859
1994 1,703 2,245
1995 1,574 1,895
1996 1,221 1,714
1997 937 1,345
1998 1,487 1,374
1999 1,161 1,286
2000 951 1,285
1 Individual Bankruptcy Orders includes the following categories: Self employed; Employees; No occupation and unemployed; Directors and promoters of companies; Occupation unknown.
2 1991 only available from Q2

Source:

DTI

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses opened in London in(a) 1996 and (b) in the last year for which figures are available. [152191]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 8 March 2001]: Official statistics for new business openings are reflected in VAT registrations. There were 34,055 VAT registrations of London businesses in 1996 and 37,335 in 1999, the last year for which figures are available.

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