Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of Companies House identity verifications have used (a) assisted and (b) non-digital routes since 1 April 2025; and what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of those routes.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The specific data is not available. Companies House has recruited significant resource and expanded and trained our customer service team to assist users in the identity verification journey. They are also establishing a specialist team to support customers who have very significant issues accessing identity verification. Companies House is also introducing a specific assisted route for people whose passport is from a country that does not issue biometric passports.
Individuals can also use the Post Office or Authorised Company Service Providers who can offer non-digital routes and further assistance.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps Companies House is taking to support (a) micro companies and (b) residents’ management companies with volunteer directors to complete its identity verification before 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 available routes. Further guidance will be issued. In the meantime, Companies House is ensuring that staff are on hand to help users who require assistance via its helpline and by email. In providing this support Companies House will be mindful of the entities directors represent such as flat management companies, charities and micro companies.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many company directors have been disqualified following Insolvency Service investigations involving (a) phoenix trading or (b) similar conduct after insolvency in each of the last three years.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Until April 2025, The Insolvency Service only recorded data for phoenix trading where directors were specifically disqualified for that allegation. This was infrequent, as phoenixism is defined very precisely and requires a high burden of proof. In the 3 years to 31 March 2025 no company directors were recorded as being disqualified specifically for phoenix trading. In many cases, tackling misconduct under another allegation is more effective and, in the period 1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025, 10 directors were disqualified where phoenix trading was recorded alongside the main allegation.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current enforcement powers where directors of insolvent companies resume trading through new companies; and what steps he is taking to strengthen consumer protection in such cases.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Both civil and criminal enforcement tools, are used to address corporate abuse, that includes phoenixism. Director disqualification helps to protect the public from individuals who have demonstrated that they are unfit to be involved in the management of a company. The Insolvency Service is working with HMRC and Companies House to tackle abusive phoenixism.
Officials at the Insolvency Service are currently conducting a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the corporate civil enforcement regime. Any specific proposals to strengthen the public protection provided by the regime will be subject to public consultation in due course.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support hospitality businesses at risk of closure in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises the vital role of hospitality businesses in our communities and economy, including those in Harpenden and Berkhamsted, and that’s why we’re taking targeted action to support them with the pressures they face.
In April, we launched a Taskforce to consider ways to create a more balanced premises licensing system that not only safeguards communities but also supports responsible businesses. On 7 October the Government issued a Call for Evidence on Reforming the licensing system - GOV.UK (deadline: midday, 6 November 2025). These reforms are part of the Small Business Strategy, which also tackles late payments, improves access to finance, and cuts red tape. We want planning and licensing systems to work fairly for businesses and residents.
Additionally, the Hospitality Support Scheme aims to co-invest in projects that boost productivity and help community pubs adapt to local needs. We’re also creating a fairer business rates system, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties under £500,000 rateable value and continue to work closely with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council to boost productivity and resilience by working together to address the challenges facing businesses.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps his Department has taken to consult with rural community-owned businesses in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire in the development of its planned small business strategy.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
This Government is committed to embedding the voice of small business into policy. The Department for Business and Trade has engaged with hundreds of individual SMEs across all sectors and regions as part of co-designing our SME Strategy. This has included roundtables to address topics such as high streets, markets and access to finance.
Engagement with individual SMEs will continue to be a priority up to and after the launch of the SME Strategy to assess the impact of these policies on SMEs across the UK in all rural and urban areas.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support businesses to take up digital technologies in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
The Hertfordshire Growth Hub provides businesses in Harpenden and Berkhamsted with support and advice on adopting digital technology. More widely, the industry-led SME Digital Adoption Taskforce will soon publish its final recommendations on how Government and industry can work together to increase SME uptake of digital technology across the UK. Building these capabilities will form part of our forthcoming SME Strategy.
Our Industrial Strategy also set out ambitions, informed by the Technology Adoption Review, to increase digital adoption in eight growth-driving sectors. This includes up to £99m for the Made Smarter Adoption programme to help manufacturing SMEs adopt digital technologies.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of the use of e-invoicing to support SME digital adoption.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
E-invoicing can help SMEs to reduce administrative burdens and data processing errors. Increasing SME adoption of digital tools like e-invoicing can therefore lead to increased productivity, as well as improved payment times and streamlined tax administration.
The SME Digital Adoption Taskforce has been developing recommendations for Government and Industry on how best to encourage uptake of digital tools such as e-invoicing. The Taskforce produced an interim report in March 2025. Their final report will be published later this Summer.
DBT and HMRC recently ran a joint 12-week consultation to gather views on promoting e-invoicing in the UK. The Government will publish a summary of responses and provide an update on next steps in due course.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
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 e-invoicing on (a) payment times and (b) cash flow management for SMEs.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
The Government is committed to tackling late payments, which can cause cash flow issues for SMEs. In September 2024 we announced measures including a new Fair Payment Code, legislation requiring large companies to report headline payment performance data in their annual reports, and a public consultation on further measures.
Adoption of e-invoicing can also help improve payment times and cash flow management by reducing administrative burdens and data errors and streamlining invoicing processes.
DBT and HMRC recently ran a joint 12-week consultation to gather views on promoting e-invoicing in the UK. The Government will publish a summary of responses and provide an update on next steps in due course.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department plans to take to promote e-invoicing among SMEs.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
Many SMEs could benefit from digital tools like e-invoicing. E-invoicing can streamline invoicing processes and lead to increased productivity, improved payment times and easier tax administration.
However, we know that SMEs face several barriers to adopting new digital technologies, one of which can be a lack of clear information on benefits and software options. The SME Digital Adoption Taskforce has been considering how to best overcome these and will be publishing their final report in the Summer.
DBT and HMRC recently ran a joint 12-week consultation to gather views on promoting e-invoicing in the UK. The Government will publish a summary of responses and provide an update on next steps in due course.