HM Treasury (HMT) has launched a consultation and call for evidence to assess potential enhancements to the UK's Commercial Credit Data Sharing (CCDS) scheme. CCDS, established under the Small and Medium Sized Business (Credit Information) Regulations 2015, mandates that designated banks share SME credit data with designated credit reference agencies (CRAs) to improve access to finance. The consultation sets out specific proposals aimed at improving CCDS operations, including a standardised data format, enhancing data amendment processes, tightening deadlines for data submission and exploring expansion of the scope of CCDS to include a wider range of finance providers.
HMT is also seeking views on several related areas, including whether CRAs should set up online data amendment portals (similar to those used under the consumer credit data sharing scheme) and the costs and benefits of them doing so; whether changes are needed to the CCDS regime to improve the timely amendment of data by CRAs and/or lenders, which could potentially be supported through legislative changes or guidance; and the status quo for amending data and what challenges may arise to help formulate a position. The deadline for comments is 11:59am on 20 November. The consultation will help determine whether changes should be made to the existing CCDS regulations or whether policy objectives can be achieved through non-legislative means.
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