Small Firms 5. Sir Ralph Howell To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many small firms were operating in the United Kingdom (a) at the latest available date and (b) in 1979. [36069] Mr. Lang Provisional estimates show there were 3.7 million businesses with fewer than 50 employees at end 1994, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Comparable estimates for 1979 show there were then only 2.4 million businesses.