Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the regularity of identity verification for businesses and shops possibly operating illegally.

The Department considered the regularity of identity verification as part of Companies House reform. Identity verification applies to individuals associated with registered entities, not all businesses and is generally a one-off requirement. This approach provides more assurance about who is setting up, running and controlling companies in the UK whilst minimising burdens to business. Companies House can, require individuals to re-verify their identity where there are concerns that verification was obtained fraudulently. Identity verification forms part of a broader, risk-based approach, alongside enhanced intelligence sharing and strengthened powers to detect and address suspicious activity.