Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the consultation entitled Modernising Corporate Reporting to support long-term economic growth, published 7 September 2026, what consideration has been made regarding Annual General Meetings moving to online only and the potential impact on attendance and scrutiny of corporate leadership.

The government has committed to clarifying the law in relation to fully virtual Annual General Meetings (AGMs). Officials are engaging with investors and business across the country on the practicalities of this and a full assessment is being undertaken as part of the Modernising Corporate Reporting programme. This includes consulting on safeguards that should accompany the change, including how shareholder rights relating to attendance and the ability to challenge company directors are protected. This will ensure that fully virtual meetings only take place where shareholders agree, preserving the option for physical or hybrid attendance where it is shareholders’ preferred format.