Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of compulsory identity verification via One Login on (a) small business owners and (b) people who are digitally excluded.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Identity verification creates a more reliable companies register. This supports small businesses that may have limited resources in due diligence, helping them grow. Verifying the identity of those who run or control companies also protects legitimate businesses and the wider public from those who would abuse the system for criminal purposes.
Companies House has received feedback from users during the voluntary identity verification period and is developing options to support individuals unable to verify their identity through the standard route. Companies House is ensuring that staff are on hand to help users requiring assistance via its helpline and by email.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether alternative non-digital methods of identity verification will be available for company directors following the rollout of mandatory identity verification via GOV.UK One Login from 18 November 2025.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Companies House is continuing to develop alternative options that will offer more support to individuals who are unable to verify their identities through the standard route. Further guidance will be issued but, in the meantime, Companies House is ensuring that staff are on hand to help users who require assistance via its helpline and by email.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending Paid Parental Bereavement Pay and Leave to those who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks.
Answered by Justin Madders
The loss of a child at any age is incredibly difficult. Parental Bereavement Leave is available to parents who suffer a bereavement from 24 weeks of completed pregnancy up to the age of 18.
Under existing laws, women are protected against any discrimination regarding pregnancy, including miscarriage. We expect employers to treat their employees experiencing miscarriage with compassion, and we encourage them to where possible go further to support their employees. More broadly, the Employment Rights Bill will strengthen protection for new mothers and establish a new right to Bereavement Leave for other loved ones.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) Royal Mail and (b) Ofcom on Royal Mail’s review of customer service points.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake
Decisions on the closure of customer service points are an operational matter for Royal Mail, provided they meet Ofcom’s regulatory requirement on Royal Mail, as the Designated Universal Service Provider, to provide access points for the universal service.
Whilst the Government has no role in Royal Mail’s operational decisions, I understand that Royal Mail has completed the first stage of its review of customer service points and decided to maintain the current estate.