Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the number of people who have been unable to verify their identity using the Gov.uk One Login service due to mismatches with third-party data; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that legitimate (a) company directors and (b) Persons of Significant Control are not required to pay private verification providers when Government systems fail to recognise them.

GOV.UK One Login applies high standards for identity verification to prevent fraud and ensure the security of users and government services. GOV.UK One Login must ensure users meet these high standards before accessing a government service to fulfil its role.

Services onboarded to GOV.UK One Login are required to provide an alternative route for users unable or unwilling to verify their identity through the service. The alternative route is determined by the individual service. The Companies House alternative route is via Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPS). Companies House do not regulate ACSPs and fees are set at the discretion of individual ACSPs.