HC Deb 15 April 2002 vol 383 cc745-6W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her latest estimate is of the number of businesses in the United Kingdom which employ fewer than 200 people; and what proportion of all businesses in the United Kingdom they represent. [49485]

Nigel Griffiths

In 2000 there were approximately 3.7 million businesses in the UK that employed fewer than 200 employees. This was equivalent to 99.8 per cent. of all UK businesses in 2000.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her latest estimate is of the percentage of the private sector work force which is employed by companies with(a) fewer than 200 employees and (b) fewer than 100 employees. [49488]

Nigel Griffiths

In 2000 there were approximately 22 million people employed in the private sector or public corporations. Of these 48.5 per cent. were in businesses with fewer than 100 employees. 53.5 per cent. were employed by businesses with fewer than 200 employees.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her latest estimate is of the share of national output produced by companies with(a) fewer than 200 employees and (b) fewer than 100 employees. [49487]

Nigel Griffiths

National output, or GDP, data is not collected by size of business. Two proxies for this measure are employment share and turnover share, which are collected by size of business. The table shows the figures for businesses with fewer than 200 and 100 employees:

UK per cent.
Employees Employment share Turnover share
0–99 48.5 38.7
0–199 53.5 44.5

Source:

SME Statistics in the UK 2000

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her latest estimate is of the number of sole trader businesses in the United Kingdom; and what proportion of all businesses in the United Kingdom they represent. [49479]

Nigel Griffiths

In 2000 there were approximately 2.6 million businesses in the UK that were classified as having no employees. This figure includes sole proprietorships, partnerships comprising only the self-employed owner-manager(s) and companies comprising only an employee director. These 2.6 million equate to 69.6 per cent. of all UK businesses.