Written questions by Hatton.

How many meetings his Department held with the Federation of Small Businesses that related to the changes to accounts for small companies and micro-entities between January and June 2026.

Awaiting answer.

Which stakeholders his Department consulted on changes to accounts for small companies and micro-entities.

Awaiting answer.

What is the total number of unique individuals registered as Persons of Significant Control on Companies House.

We do not identify unique individuals as persons of significant control (PSC), but we do hold the total number of PSC appointments. These figures are published through our official statistics release, which provides the authoritative source for this data....

How many individual Persons of Significant Control are registered on Companies House.

As of 31st March 2025, there were 6,540,159 appointments for People with Significant Control (PSC) registered at Companies House. This is not the number of unique individuals on the register, but the number of appointments held. Another corporate body can...

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of conducting a public consultation and review of whistleblowing law as part of the measures announced in the UK anti-corruption strategy 2025.

On 15 April the government announced its intention to consult on the whistleblowing framework in the Employment Rights Act 1996 in the Summer. The government wants to seek views on the operation of the framework to ensure it is working effectively.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of low-cost imported stone on the competitiveness of UK natural stone producers; and what steps he is taking to help support the natural stone industry.

The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) is the UK’s investigatory body that exists to defend the UK against unfair international trade practices, including foreign subsidies. I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA if they believe they are being injured by unfair trading practices as it will be for the TRA to decide whether evidentiary thresholds to initiate a trade remedies investigation are met. The Department remains vigilant to any reports of potential injury to industries from unfair trading practices and regularly engages with the natural stone sector.

With reference to the Register of Overseas Entities (Protection and Trusts) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, whether applicants will need to demonstrate legitimate interest for each application where relevant or whether legitimate interest will be presumed once demonstrated.

Under these regulations the presumption is that trust data on the Register of Overseas Entities will normally be disclosed when requested. Most applications will not require the applicant to demonstrate any legitimate interest. Legitimate interest applies where trust data involves a minor or multiple entities. In such cases, applicants must demonstrate their request relates to the investigation of possible money laundering, tax evasion, terrorist financing or sanctions breaches, make a statement it is to further their investigation and explain the information's intended use.A legitimate interest must be shown for each new application.The registrar will consider any appropriate restrictions on the use and further disclosure of trust information before disclosing this information to a successful applicant. The applicant may publish this information unless the registrar has imposed a restriction on its further disclosure.

With reference to The Register of Overseas Entities (Protection and Trusts) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, when applicants are required to demonstrate a legitimate interest; how this differs from information required on application under Regulation 4(1).

Under these regulations the presumption is that trust data on the Register of Overseas Entities will normally be disclosed when requested. Most applications will not require the applicant to demonstrate any legitimate interest. Legitimate interest applies where trust data involves a minor or multiple entities. In such cases, applicants must demonstrate their request relates to the investigation of possible money laundering, tax evasion, terrorist financing or sanctions breaches, make a statement it is to further their investigation and explain the information's intended use.A legitimate interest must be shown for each new application.The registrar will consider any appropriate restrictions on the use and further disclosure of trust information before disclosing this information to a successful applicant. The applicant may publish this information unless the registrar has imposed a restriction on its further disclosure.

With reference to the Register of Overseas Entities (Protection and Trusts) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, whether applicants who obtain trust information through this regulation will be allowed to publish this information where it is in the public interest.

Under these regulations the presumption is that trust data on the Register of Overseas Entities will normally be disclosed when requested. Most applications will not require the applicant to demonstrate any legitimate interest. Legitimate interest applies where trust data involves a minor or multiple entities. In such cases, applicants must demonstrate their request relates to the investigation of possible money laundering, tax evasion, terrorist financing or sanctions breaches, make a statement it is to further their investigation and explain the information's intended use.A legitimate interest must be shown for each new application.The registrar will consider any appropriate restrictions on the use and further disclosure of trust information before disclosing this information to a successful applicant. The applicant may publish this information unless the registrar has imposed a restriction on its further disclosure.