Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the planned timetable is for the establishment of a public register of beneficial ownership information for companies and other legal entities outside of the UK that own or buy property in the UK.

A Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS425) was published on 24 January 2018 confirming the timetable for the establishment of a public register of beneficial owners of non-UK entities that own or buy property in the UK or participate in UK Government procurement. The Government will publish a draft Bill before the summer recess this year and intends to introduce the Bill to Parliament early in the second session. Following Royal Assent and the making of secondary legislation, the Government intends that the register will be operational in 2021.