Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to help ensure that companies cannot commit fraud by changing their company name.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 introduced new powers that build on the existing controls of company names. These powers will be used in accordance with the Registrar’s new statutory objectives.

The Registrars of Companies can now reject a proposed company name where they have reason to believe that a name is intended to facilitate fraud. Companies can be directed to change their name in more circumstances and the Registrar can determine a new name for the company.