Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of mandatory Companies House identity verification on long-serving company directors.

Most existing company directors can complete online verification in a matter of minutes using a wide range of documents. The service has been designed to be straightforward and meets government accessibility requirements, including compatibility with assistive technologies and can be completed independently using a smartphone or computer. A 12-month transition period commenced on 18 November 2025 to lessen the impact on existing directors.

An impact assessment found verification costs and burdens are minimal, reflecting our aim to keep new requirements proportionate and manageable. The assessment is available here: Impact Assessment - Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill