§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many graduates between the ages of 21 and 25 have set up small businesses in each year since 1997. [179249]
§ Nigel GriffithsThese statistics are not available for publication. However statistics are available on the number of graduates aged 21 to 25 inclusive who are self-employed and those that went into self-employment as a first destination after graduaton for each year since 1997. This information is provided in tables 1 and 2 as follows.
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Table 1: Graduates aged 21 to 25 inclusive who are self-employed thousands Number 1997 13 1998 14 1999 12 2000 17 2001 12 2002 14 2003 20 Note: The above figures are estimates, and are subject to sampling errors. These estimates have approximate 95 per cent. confidence intervals of up to 5 thousand. Source: ONS Labour Force Survey, Spring (March-May) of each year. Figures in thousands.
Table 2: Graduates going into self-employment as a first destination after graduation Year of graduation
Under 25 years 25 years and over Total 1996–97 1,650 1,040 2,690 1997–98 1,730 1,170 2,900 1998–99 1,830 1,150 2,990 1999–2000 1,530 860 2,390 2000–01 1,595 740 2,340 2001–02 1,810 765 2,575 Note: Students of unknown age are included in totals but not in the breakdown. Figures rounded up or down to the nearest 5. Source: The Higher Education Statistics Authority: First Destination Survey.