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971330

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2018
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Companies: Ownership
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to paragraph 11 of his consultation document on the draft Register of Overseas Entities Bill relating to information for the public register on the beneficial ownership of companies that bid for public contracts, what thresholds he is considering for those contracts.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	172509
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2018 answer text <p>The Government has decided that the most effective way to achieve the required level of transparency on overseas entity beneficial ownership is to require information about beneficial ownership as a condition of awarding contracts that meet certain conditions or thresholds, and that this will enable the public and interested parties to easily identify the beneficial owners of entities awarded central government contracts. The information about beneficial ownership that will be required, will be equivalent to that proposed for the Register of Overseas Entities, and it will be published in an equally transparent way.</p><p><br></p><p>The Government is currently considering mechanisms including the Contracts Finder service (currently used to publish contract award information) to achieve this. A financial threshold for applying the policy on publishing beneficial ownership information has not yet been decided and will be subject to a Government consultation.</p> answering member constituency Hertsmere answering member printed Oliver Dowden grouped question UIN 172510 question first answered 14/09/2018 11:11:12 answering member 4441 label Biography information for Oliver Dowden
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

971331

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2018
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Companies: Ownership
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to paragraph 11 of his consultation on the draft Register of Overseas Entities Bill and the information for the public register on beneficial ownership of companies that bid for public contracts, what conditions he is considering for those contracts.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	172510
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2018 answer text <p>The Government has decided that the most effective way to achieve the required level of transparency on overseas entity beneficial ownership is to require information about beneficial ownership as a condition of awarding contracts that meet certain conditions or thresholds, and that this will enable the public and interested parties to easily identify the beneficial owners of entities awarded central government contracts. The information about beneficial ownership that will be required, will be equivalent to that proposed for the Register of Overseas Entities, and it will be published in an equally transparent way.</p><p><br></p><p>The Government is currently considering mechanisms including the Contracts Finder service (currently used to publish contract award information) to achieve this. A financial threshold for applying the policy on publishing beneficial ownership information has not yet been decided and will be subject to a Government consultation.</p> answering member constituency Hertsmere answering member printed Oliver Dowden grouped question UIN 172509 question first answered 14/09/2018 11:11:12 answering member 4441 label Biography information for Oliver Dowden
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1123688

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Companies: Ownership
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many exemptions have been made under the people with significant control register; and for what reasons those exemptions have been made.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	248713
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>As at 30 April 2019, 836 live companies were exempt from the requirements to file information about their People with Significant Control. This is because they are subject to other disclosure requirements due to their voting shares being admitted to trading on a regulated market in the UK or EEA, or on markets listed in Schedule 1 to the Register of People with Significant Control Regulations 2016.</p><p> </p><p>Exemptions can also be granted in very limited circumstances, in the interests of national security, the economic wellbeing of the UK, or in the support or prevention or detection of serious crime. I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 26 January 2016, <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2016-01-26/HCWS488/" target="_blank">HCWS488</a>, which set out the circumstances in which such exemptions would be granted.</p><p><strong><br> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 07/05/2019 16:05:18 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 116369 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

969496

	registered interest
	date	07/09/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Companies: Ownership
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for offences related to the non-disclosure of Person of Significant Control of UK companies; and what the total amount of fines imposed was for such offences for the most recent period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
	tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
	uin	171645
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2018 answer text <p>(a) From June 2016 (when Persons of Significant Control criminal offences came into force) to September 2018 criminal proceedings have been issued against 99 individuals (directors) and 89 companies.</p><p> </p><p>(b) 5 individuals have been convicted - 4 convictions were for offences contrary to section 790VA Companies Act 2006 (failing to update Companies House with details of relevant entries to a company’s PSC Register.) A further 4 companies were convicted of the same offence. 1 individual has been convicted of an offence contrary to section 790F Companies Act 2006 (failing to make relevant enquiries relating to a company’s PSC). 2 companies have been convicted of the same offence.</p><p> </p><p>(c) The total amount of fines for these offences is £7,000.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 13/09/2018 15:23:47 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

971332

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Companies: Ownership
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to empower Companies House to identify and report suspicious activity in the persons of significant control register; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	172511
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2018 answer text <p>Companies House already work very closely with UK law enforcement bodies and routinely share intelligence with them. This includes information that they have received or identified that may indicate suspicious activity. Companies House also assists UK law enforcement with over 120 investigations each month.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 13/09/2018 15:16:44 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

982568

	registered interest
	date	08/10/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Companies: Ownership
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment his Department has made of the ability of Companies House to verify beneficial ownership data submitted to the register.
	tabling member constituency	Hayes and Harlington
	tabling member printed	John McDonnell
	uin	175849
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2018 answer text <p>Companies House carries out a number of checks on all information received; ensuring it is valid, complete, correctly formatted and in compliance with company filing requirements. The obligation to ensure the information is accurate lies with the company and its directors. A company commits an offence if it files false information.</p><p>In addition, following the Financial Action Task Force evaluation, which will report back in due course, the Government will actively consider areas where the Anti Money Laundering/Counter Terrorism Finance framework can be improved. The Government will look in particular at controls over who registers companies in the UK, what information they have to provide, and how assurance is provided over that information</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/10/2018 16:23:21 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	178 label Biography information for John McDonnell

1327923

	registered interest
	date	25/05/2021
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Companies: Ownership
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the proportion of all registered companies in the UK which have not listed an ultimate beneficial owner; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hodge Hill
	tabling member printed	Liam Byrne
	uin	7105
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/06/2021 answer text <p>As of 1 April 2021, the proportion of all registered companies in the UK, having not listed an ultimate beneficial owner (Person of Significant Control) are 0.25% of the effective company register.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 03/06/2021 15:39:48 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	1171 label Biography information for Liam Byrne

1328103

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2021
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Companies: Ownership
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) companies and (b) individuals who have not complied with requirements to declare beneficial ownership; and how many sanctions have been levied against individuals or companies for non-compliance.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hodge Hill
	tabling member printed	Liam Byrne
	uin	7743
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2021 answer text <p>On 1 April 2021 the number of registered companies in the UK that had not complied with requirements to declare beneficial ownership, by not listing an ultimate beneficial owner (Person of Significant Control: PSC), was 11,107 (0.25% of the effective register). Between 01/04/19 and 31/03/2021, The Insolvency Service (which is responsible for prosecuting these offences) has achieved a total of 210 convictions, of which 91 companies and 119 directors were convicted for offences relating to the beneficial ownership of companies. Two of the convicted directors also received disqualification orders for a period of 3 years.</p><p> </p><p>Companies House is unable to offer an estimation of the individuals who have not complied with requirements to declare beneficial ownership. Until a company registers the details of the individual, or a statement declaring why no details have been provided, it has no indication for the cause of the non-compliance and cannot, therefore, provide a reliable estimate.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to the companies that have provided details of their Persons of Significant Control, there will be a proportion of compliant companies that have legitimately not provided details of their PSC. This is because either an exemption has been applied or a statement registered in accordance with law declaring why no details have been provided.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 11/06/2021 10:02:06 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	1171 label Biography information for Liam Byrne

1351613

	registered interest
	date	18/08/2021
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Companies: Ownership
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure the full disclosure of Ultimate Beneficial Owner status for all UK-registered businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
	tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
	uin	40766
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2021 answer text <p>In June 2016, the People with Significant Control (PSC) register and regulations were introduced with the aim of delivering greater transparency around the ownership of UK corporate entities. Over 99% of entities have complied with their PSC filing requirements. The register is widely used, has a positive economic effect and contributes to the fight against the abuse of corporate structures.</p><p> </p><p>Between 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2021, 210 criminal proceedings were issued against companies and directors in connection with failure to comply with PSC requirements. 119 directors and 91 companies have been convicted.</p><p> </p><p>In October 2019, BEIS published a statutory post-implementation review of the PSC regulations which stressed the importance of ensuring the reliability of the PSC register information. With that in mind, the Government has made clear that it will legislate when Parliamentary time allows to require identity verification of PSCs a part of a broader programme targeted at further improving corporate transparency.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 09/09/2021 16:46:30 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
	tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

1140449

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Companies: Ownership
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many other countries have indicated that they will implement public registers of beneficial ownership apart from the UK and the Overseas Territories.
	tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
	uin	HL17282
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>Twelve countries have expressed an interest in signing up to the Beneficial Ownership Transparency Disclosure Principles which the UK launched at the Open Government Partnership Summit in May 2019. These commit countries to developing open and free to access registers of beneficial ownership information by 2023.</p><p>Under the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, EU Member States are required to implement publicly accessible registers of company beneficial ownership information. In June 2019 the governments of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man announced that they plan to implement their own publicly accessible registers of company beneficial ownership in line with EU norms.</p><p>In addition a growing number of countries already have public company beneficial ownership registers. This includes Denmark and Ukraine.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 23/07/2019 16:04:54 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra