VAT REGISTRATION

That this House notes the significant delays in the processing of VAT registration applications; further notes that currently fewer than one in five applications are processed within the target time of 14 days and that the average time for one registration site is over 50 days; expresses concern that the delays are hindering the establishment of legitimate new businesses in the UK and that this will damage the competitiveness of the UK economy; and calls upon the Government and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs to take appropriate and urgent measures to reduce delays in the processing of VAT registration applications.