§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the change in the number of successful high growth business start-ups in each year since 1997. [152054]
877W
§ Nigel GriffithsThe estimated number was as follows:
Number 1997 12,200 1998 12,200 1999 (provisional) 12,900 These estimates are based on the following definition of HGSU:
High growth firms are defined as those with 10 or more employees and/or £1 million or more turnover by the further year of trading. There is an inherent four-year lag in the measurement of this target. Further information on progress can be found in the 2003 DTI Autumn Performance Report.