Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to respond to the correspondence of (a) 19 January 2026, (b) 12 February 2026 and (c) 3 March 2026 from the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A response to your correspondence has now been issued.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Companies House news story titled Update on Companies House WebFiling security issue, published on 16 March 2026, on what date the security flaw allowing unauthorised access to company details was first introduced to the WebFiling system.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Companies House has investigated the technical issue and confirmed that it was introduced on 11 October 2025 as part of a major WebFiling service update. It was not the result of any malicious attempt to breach its systems from outside or a cyber-attack. The issue has now been fixed and the WebFiling Service reopened at 9am on 16 March after comprehensive testing.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Companies House news story titled Update on Companies House WebFiling security issue, published on 16 March 2026, whether his Department has formally notified the Information Commissioner’s Office of a personal data breach regarding the potential exposure of director details.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Companies House formally notified the Information Commissioner’s Office on 13 March 2026, as soon as it became aware of a potential data breach and is actively engaging with them as its internal investigation progresses. The issue was fixed and the WebFiling Service reopened at 9am on 16 March after comprehensive testing.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Companies House news story titled Update on Companies House WebFiling security issue, published on 16 March 2026, how many unique user accounts successfully performed the set of actions required to access another company’s details without consent during the period the vulnerability was active.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

It is not currently possible to determine the number of unique user accounts affected. However, Companies House is investigating this from both a technical and customer perspective. Following the initial report, ongoing investigations have found no subsequent confirmed cases of personal data having been accessed without permission as a result of the issue. There is no confirmed evidence that any records have been changed. The absence of any new confirmed cases is welcome, although investigations continue.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Companies House news story titled Update on Companies House WebFiling security issue, published on 16 March 2026, what estimate his Department has made of the number of companies whose private dashboard information, including director home addresses, was accessed by unauthorised users.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Companies House is investigating this from both a technical and customer perspective. Following the initial report, ongoing investigations have found no subsequent confirmed cases of personal data having been accessed without permission as a result of this issue. There is no confirmed evidence that any records have been changed. The absence of any new confirmed cases is welcome, although as the investigation continue it is not yet possible to provide an estimate of whether any confirmed cases will be identified.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what was the total value of the Emission Trading Scheme/Carbon Price Support compensation paid to British Steel during 2024-2025.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

For the last decade, Government has provided compensation to a small number of businesses in the most electricity intensive sectors, including steel, to lower their electricity bills and help keep them viable in the UK. In the 2024/25 financial year, approximately 140 of the most electricity intensive and trade exposed companies received support worth £142 million. The Department does not publish the details of individual awards given to companies through compensation schemes due to commercial sensitivities.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, where the new Fair Work Agency offices will be located.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Fair Work Agency brings together in one place the work of the existing employment rights enforcement bodies. To ensure there is no disruption to front line operational activity there are no immediate plans to changes to existing, nationwide, locations of staff.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she intends to publish an updated Space Industrial Plan.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government does not intend to update the Space Industrial Plan. Instead, a broader plan for space will be published later this year, which will build on the Space Industrial Plan and other relevant publications, including the National Space Strategy and the Strategic Defence Review. The plan will set out objectives and delivery plans for areas previously covered by the Space Industrial Plan, including skills, regulation and investment.