Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish the names of the recipients of loans made under (1) the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and (2) the Bounce Back Loan Scheme; and if not, why not.

There are currently no plans to publish the recipient data on who has taken out loans under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme or Bounce Back Loan Scheme. This is on the grounds that the release of information regarding SME beneficiaries could reveal information on their financial standing and may therefore damage their commercial interests. Information on lending is also commercially sensitive for lenders who deliver the schemes on behalf of Government. Provision for withholding this information is contained within S43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Additionally, some company names may reveal the names of individuals if they are sole traders, where the company name is their actual name/part of their name. This is classed as personal data which is exempt under S40(2) personal data under FOIA.