[holding answer 18 December 2008]: Estimates of the number of registered small to medium-sized enterprises, in each of the last five years, are not available below the regional level.
Only data for businesses of all sizes registered for VAT are published by BERR. It is estimated that the majority (97.9 per cent.) of these will be small (with fewer than 50 employees) and a further 1.7 per cent. will be medium-sized (with 50-249 employees).
The number of businesses registered for VAT in Stockport metropolitan borough, Cheadle and the North West for the start of 1997 to the start of 2008 is shown in the following table.
Start of year Cheadle parliamentary constituency Stockport North West region 1997 2,475 7,840 160,165 1998 2,525 7,935 162,685 1999 2,590 8,095 165,080 2000 2,615 8,130 167,085 2001 2,630 8,315 169,040 2002 2,645 8,370 170,730 2003 2,710 8,485 172,650 2004 2,755 8,665 176,900 2005 2,790 8,830 180,355 2006 2,860 9,020 184,725 2007 2,910 9,165 188,735 2008 3,015 9,435 194,695 Source: BERR National Statistics publication “Business start-ups and closures: VAT registrations and de-registrations 2007” available at: http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/vat/index.htm
The number of VAT-registered businesses in Stockport metropolitan borough rose from 7,840 at the start of 1997 to 9,435 at the start of 2008—a rise of 20 per cent.
The number of VAT-registered businesses in Cheadle rose from 2,475 at the start of 1997 to 3,015 at the start of 2008—a rise of 22 per cent.
The number of VAT-registered businesses in the North West rose from 160,165 at the start of 1997 to 194,695 at the start of 2008—a rise of 22 per cent.
VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was £64,000 at the start of 2007. Only 1.96 million out of 4.7 million UK enterprises (42 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2007.
Estimates of the number of registered small to medium-sized enterprise, in each of the last five years, are not available below the regional level.
Only data for businesses of all sizes registered for VAT are published by BERR. It is estimated that the majority (97.9 per cent.) of these will be small (with fewer than 50 employees) and a further 1.7 per cent. will be medium-sized (with 50 to 249 employees).
The number of businesses registered for VAT in Stockport metropolitan borough, Greater Manchester and the north-west for the start of 2004 to the start of 2008 is shown in the following table.
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Stockport Metropolitan Borough 8,665 8,830 9,020 9,165 9,435 Greater Manchester 64,665 65,745 67,350 68,830 70,800 The North West 176,900 180,355 184,725 188,735 194,695 Source: BERR National Statistics publication ‘Business start-ups and closures: VAT registrations and de-registrations 2007’ available at: http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/vat/index.htm
The number of VAT-registered businesses in Stockport metropolitan borough rose from 8,665 at the start of 2004 to 9,435 at the start of 2008—a rise of 9 per cent.
The number of VAT-registered businesses in Greater Manchester rose from 64,665 at the start of 2004 to 70,800 at the start of 2008—a rise of 9 per cent.
The number of VAT-registered businesses in the north-west rose from 176,900 at the start of 2004 to 194,695 at the start of 2008—a rise of 10 per cent.
VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was £64,000 at the start of 2007. Only 1.96 million out of 4.7 million UK enterprises (42 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2007.