Research and Development Tax Credit

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many small businesses have applied for research and development tax relief in each of the last three years. (322692)

Annual figures on research and development tax credits are published as National Statistics on the HMRC website:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/randdtcmenu.htm

The latest figures show that the numbers of claims under the SME scheme were 4,960 in 2005-06, 5,270 in 2006-07, and 5,930 in 2007-08, and the amounts claimed were £180 million, £200 million and £250 million respectively. Figures for 2008-09 are not yet available.