Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what resources he is providing to Companies House to (a) detect and (b) prevent the use of fraudulent corporate structures for criminal activity.

The Government is committed to ensuring Companies House is fully resourced to fulfil its new functions. In May 2024, the incorporation fee and annual fee increased from £12 to £50, and £13 to £34 respectively. This funding, alongside £19m from the Economic Crime Levy, has provided additional resources across Companies House and the Insolvency Service to tackle economic crime.

Companies House has grown considerably since the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 passed, increasing from around 1,400 to 2,142 staff. This will further increase in the coming months. Fees remain under review to ensure Companies House remains sufficiently resourced.