HC Deb 26 February 2002 vol 380 cc1124-5W
Pete Wishart

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many enterprises there were with(a) fewer than 50, (b) between 50 and 249, (c) between 250 and 499 and (d) over 500 employees in each nation and region of the UK in each of the last five years; and what the percentage annual change was in each category and for each year. [37565]

Nigel Griffiths

Regional data on the number of businesses are available for the years 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Businesses (number) Annual change (percentage)
Size (number of employees) 1997 1998 1999 1997 1998 1999
South East
0–49 608,445 614,995 601,610 1 1.1 -2.2
50––249 3,685 3,580 3,375 1 -2.8 -5.7
250–499 485 500 475 1 3.1 -5.0
500 plus 545 555 540 1 1.8 -2.7
South West
0–49 361,220 368,955 358,330 1 2.1 -2.9
50–249 1,880 1,835 1,745 1 -2.4 -4.9
250–499 220 240 240 1 9.1 0.0
500 plus 215 225 215 1 4.7 -4.4
England
0–49 3,214,530 3,151,795 3,188,125 1 -2.0 1.2
50–249 22,540 21,750 20,680 1 -3.5 -4.9
250–499 2,985 2,955 2,810 1 -1.0 -4.9
500 plus 3,170 3,175 3,140 1 0.2 -1.1
Wales
0–49 156,980 152,225 143,080 1 -3.0 -6.0
50–249 910 890 845 1 -2.2 -5.1
250–499 125 125 115 1 0.0 -8.0
500 plus 90 95 95 1 5.6 0.0
Scotland
0–49 241,480 244,595 231,040 1 1.3 -5.5
50–249 2,020 2,005 1,935 1 -0.7 -3.5
250–499 240 235 220 1 -2.1 -6.4
500 plus 255 260 240 1 2.0 -7.7
Northern Ireland
0–49 83,730 82,470 83,785 1 -1.5 1.6
50–249 700 760 720 1 8.6 -5.3
250–499 60 80 75 1 33.3 -6.3
500 plus 45 45 40 1 0.0 -11.1
1Not available

Source:

SME statistics for the UK 1997, 1998 and 1999

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