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28 Apr 2004 : Column 1158W—continued

National Allocation Plan

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what involvement she has had and what position she has taken on the setting of the carbon dioxide reduction target relative to 1990 levels within the National Allocation Plan to implement the EU Emissions Trading Directive. [167752]

Mr Timms: I have been closely involved in and fully support the decision published in the draft National Allocation Plan (NAP) on setting the overall allocation of allowances for the first phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) on the projected level of UK emissions, taking into account the Climate Change Programme's planned reduction from emissions trading. While the modelling used for the draft NAP indicated this approach would be equivalent to a 16.3 per cent. reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide over 1990 levels by 2010, the draft NAP indicated that emissions projections were continuing to be refined and the overall level of allowances to be included in the final NAP to be submitted to the Commission would be reviewed in the light of the latest projections. Revisions to projections will be reflected in the NAP to be submitted to the European Commission. We further expect to publish a working paper on the overall emissions projections in May and a final set of emissions projections in June which will be used for calculating final allocations. As a result, the overall percentage
 
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reduction in the carbon dioxide emissions over 1990 levels covered by the NAP will almost certainly change to reflect that work.

New Businesses

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses have started up in Manchester, Gorton since 1997. [167351]

Nigel Griffiths: Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 115,000 business start-ups in England and Wales, including 1,000 in Manchester local authority (which contains the constituency of Gorton), in the fourth quarter of 2003. The latest yearly figures show 465,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003. This represents a 19 per cent. increase on the year before. There were 4,800 business start-ups in Manchester local authority in 2003. Data for local authorities are not available for before 2003.

DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Manchester local authority (which contains the constituency of Gorton) are shown for the period 1997 to 2002. Data for 2003 will be available in autumn 2004
VAT registrations: 1997–2002

	Manchester
1997	1,595
1998	1,580
1999	1,585
2000	1,465
2001	1,335
2002	1,275

Source:
Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service

VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government has taken to help small businesses in Manchester, Gorton since 1997. [167352]

Nigel Griffiths: The Business Link Operator for Manchester (Chamber Business Enterprises) has provided assistance to 164 businesses in the Gorton constituency since 2001. The Small Business Service was set up as an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry in April 2000. Contracts were exchanged with a national network of 45 business Link Operators (seven in the North West) to provide Business Support to small and medium sized enterprises from April 2001. Before this date Government Support to businesses was provided through Training and Enterprise Councils and the Small Business Service does not have access to this data.
 
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The assistance provided to the 164 companies include, Business Finance, High Growth start up, Supply chain, Workforce Development, Micro start up assistance, E-Services, Innovation technology and design, International, Environmental advice, and other account Management assistance.

Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses were created in Liverpool, Walton in each year between 1997 and 2003. [166971]

Nigel Griffiths: Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 115,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in the fourth quarter of 2003. There were 3,500 business start-ups in Liverpool and Knowsley local authorities (Liverpool local authority contains the constituency of Walton) in 2003.The latest yearly figures show 465,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003. This represents a 19 per cent. increase on the year before. Data for local authorities are not available for before 2003. Data for Liverpool local authority are not available separately.

DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Liverpool local authority (which contains the constituency of Walton) are shown in the table for the period 1997 to 2002. Data for 2003 will be available in autumn 2004.
VAT registrations: 1997–2002

	Liverpool
1997	910
1998	960
1999	870
2000	900
2001	805
2002	835

Source:
Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service

VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many new businesses have started up in Heywood and Middleton since 1997; [168523]

(2) how many new businesses have been established in Heywood and Middleton since 1997. [168525]

Nigel Griffiths: Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 115,000 business start-ups in England and Wales, including 400 in Rochdale local authority (which contains the constituency of Heywood and Middleton), in the fourth quarter of 2003. The latest yearly figures show 465,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003. This represents a 19 per cent. increase on the year before. There were 1,400 business start-ups in Rochdale local authority in 2003. Data for local authorities are not available for before 2003.
 
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DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Rochdale local authority (which contains the constituency of Heywood and Middleton) are shown for the period 1997 to 2002. Data for 2003 will be available in autumn 2004.
VAT registrations: 1997–2002

	Rochdale
1997	480
1998	455
1999	440
2000	430
2001	455
2002	465

Source:
Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service

VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses have started up in Stalybridge and Hyde since 1997. [168747]

Nigel Griffiths: Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 115,000 business start-ups in England and Wales, including 400 in Tameside local authority (which contains the constituency of Stalybridge and Hyde) in the fourth quarter of 2003. The latest yearly figures show 465,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003. This represents a 19 per cent. increase on the year before. There were 1,900 business start-ups in Tameside local authority in 2003. Data for local authorities are not available for before 2003.

DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Tameside local authority (which contains the constituency of Stalybridge and Hyde) for the period 1997 to 2002 are shown in the table. Data for 2003 will be available in autumn 2004.
VAT registrations: 1997 to 2002

	Tameside local authority
1997	500
1998	550
1999	445
2000	530
2001	470
2002	460

Source:
Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service

VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.
 
28 Apr 2004 : Column 1162W
 

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