Written question asked by Rupert Lowe (Restore Britain) on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 September 2026. It was answered by Blair McDougall (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

Insolvency

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many investigations into suspected phoenix company activity have been undertaken by the Insolvency Service in each of the last five years; and how many resulted in enforcement action.

Answer: The Insolvency Service did not, before April 2025, record investigations in a way that consistently identifies every case where phoenix activity formed part of the misconduct. Partial management information may be identified, but it would not provide a complete picture because phoenix activity may have been recorded under wider misconduct allegations. Internal management information for 2025/26 shows 123 civil investigations and 50 criminal investigations connected with abusive phoenix behaviours. Enforcement outcomes connected with abusive phoenix behaviours in 2025/26 included 88 director disqualifications, 18 companies being wound up and 5 criminal convictions.

Secondary information