DC-M01: Number of data requests and time given to firms to respond with breakdown
Description
Number of data requests and time given to firms to respond with breakdown (Mean and 95th percentile in days)
(RegData is our data collection platform for gathering regulatory data from firms, firms use the system to provide us with data that we collect at regular intervals to support our supervisory work, from balance sheets to information on whether firms hold client money.)
2025/26 values
| Type of request (Ad-hoc and RegData) | No. of templates | Mean time given to respond (days) | 95th percentile time given to respond (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-Off and Other | 98 | 58 | 62 |
| Weekly | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Monthly | 22 | 20 | 23 |
| Quarterly | 74 | 33 | 45 |
| Half-yearly | 44 | 43 | 45 |
| Annual | 65 | 73 | 120 |
| Total | 303 | 48 | 118 |
| Firm type | Number of firms | Total number of data requests | Average number of requests per firm | Average number of days to respond | 95th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed | 223 | 13,750 | 61.7 | 41 | 92 |
| Flexible | 39,882 | 642,670 | 16.1 | 49 | 118 |
| Other | 2,053 | 8,461 | 4.1 | 38 | 90 |
| Total | 42,158 | 664,881 | 15.8 |
2024/25 values
| Type of request (Ad-hoc and RegData) | No. of templates | Mean time given to respond (days) | 95th percentile time given to respond (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-off and other | 109 | 40 | 95 |
| Weekly | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Monthly | 30 | 19 | 22 |
| Quarterly | 89 | 32 | 43 |
| Half-yearly | 46 | 42 | 46 |
| Annual | 56 | 69 | 120 |
| Total | 330 | 46 | 90 |
| Firm type | Number of firms | Total number of data requests | Average number of requests per firm | Average number of days to respond | 95th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed | 263 | 14,679 | 58 | 41 | 115 |
| Flexible | 38,234 | 586,407 | 15 | 46 | 90 |
| Other | 2,249 | 7,543 | 3 | 36 | 90 |
| Total | 40,746 | 608,629 | 14.9 |
Source: FCA Data
2023/24 values
| Type of request (Ad-hoc and RegData) | No. of templates | Mean time given to respond (days) | 95th percentile time given to respond (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-off and other | 82 | 42 | 67 |
| Weekly | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Monthly | 33 | 20 | 36 |
| Quarterly | 81 | 35 | 44 |
| Half-yearly | 46 | 43 | 47 |
| Annual | 60 | 70 | 121 |
| Total | 303 | 49 | 93 |
| Firm type | Number of firms | Total number of data requests | Average number of requests per firm | Average number of days to respond | 95th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed | 299 | 15,343 | 51 | 42 | 102 |
| Flexible | 40,031 | 554,911 | 14 | 49 | 93 |
| Other | 3,776 | 13,447 | 4 | 34 | 60 |
| Total | 44,106 | 583,701 | 13.2 |
Source: FCA data
The above tables show data collected through RegData (our platform for gathering regulatory data from firms) and ad-hoc data and information requests. We use this data to support our everyday activities, including firm supervision. RegData returns are based on requirements from our rulebook and use standard templates that firms are expected to complete and submit to us at intervals throughout the year. Ad-hoc requests are usually one-off voluntary requests, or requests made using our information gathering powers. We send them to selected firms to help us to monitor emerging issues and risks, or where our need for the data is time-limited.
For this metric, we refer to both RegData returns and Ad-hoc surveys as templates. For example, FIN074, a RegData report for firms that pay the Economic Crime Levy, is counted as one template in the ‘annual’ row of the first table. An ad-hoc request asking a sample of consumer finance firms to provide information on customers impacted by an emerging issue is counted as one template in the ‘one-off and other’ row.
Most ad-hoc requests are one-off, but some are repeated. This means not all ad-hoc requests are categorised as one-off templates. The same template might be sent at different frequencies to different firms. For example, a template normally returned quarterly may be requested every 6-months from smaller firms. In this case, the template is included in both the quarterly and half-yearly rows. As a result, the total templates figure is not an exact count of the different templates used in the reporting period.
The second table shows the volume of data requests sent out in the period. Most of our data requests are made using RegData, following a consistent schedule that is predictable for both firms and supervisors. Ad hoc requests make up less than 3% of all requests by volume.
The ‘number of fixed firms’ is based on using firm reference numbers (FRNs). If a fixed firm holds more than one FRN, it is counted multiple times in this figure. For example, a large firm made up of several authorised legal entities may hold different regulatory permissions and have separate reporting requirements for each entity. ‘Other’ firms include registered firms, such as exchanges and payments or e-money firms, as well as firms whose status has changed since submitting their data.
The above tables do not include Product Sales Data (PSD) submissions as firms can make multiple PSD submissions throughout a reporting period, making mean response times less representative. Around 1,800 firms report transaction-level data of their sales of products including mortgages, retail investments and, from 2025/26, consumer credit lending.
The above tables include data requests that the FCA collects in conjunction with the PRA and submissions which FCA collected on behalf of the PRA and that the PRA will report on separately. For consistency, we have included these submissions in the figures for this year and last year.
We identified an issue with the data extraction methodology for 2023/24 and 2024/25. An incorrect end date meant submissions made on the final day of reporting periods were excluded. This affected regulatory returns, which account for over 95% of FCA data requests. We have not updated the tables for 2023/24 and 2024/25 as previously published but our analysis is based on the correct values. This does not change the overall trend of a year-on-year decrease in requests or the trends in average requests per firm.