Business: Montgomeryshire

Lembit Öpik
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many businesses were registered in Montgomeryshire in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hain
Montgomeryshire has consistently had the second highest number of VAT registered businesses in Wales after Brecon and Radnorshire.

The number of enterprises registered for VAT at the start of each year in Montgomeryshire is as follows:

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|    |Number|
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|2001|4,030 |
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|2002|4,035 |
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|2003|4,035 |
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|2004|4,060 |
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|2005|4,050 |
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|2006|4,080 |
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|2007|4,095 |
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|2008|4,085 |
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Figures for 2009 are not available at this time.