Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government how many companies in the UK subject to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 have disclosed (1) the use of cobalt, and (2) the use of cobalt from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in their supply chain in the past five years; and what steps they have taken to pay workers a fair price and to eradicate child labour in supply chains.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has a strategy for tackling modern-day slavery in Commonwealth countries; and whether he has had discussions with representatives of the Commonwealth Secretariat on tackling modern-day slavery.
Andrew Mitchell: The UK continues to drive efforts to eradicate all forms of modern slavery in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 by 2030. We work closely with international partners, including the UN, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Commonwealth, to encourage joint action on priorities including ending the worst forms of child labour and the exploitation...
Lord Benyon: ...of clothing and other textiles, including ones made from cotton, that will be collected for recycling and reuse and therefore keep textiles in use for longer. Under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, commercial businesses who operate in the UK and have a turnover of £36m or more are required to report annually on the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery in their...
Lord Sahota: ...not fully aware of their rights, are less likely to join a union and are less assertive of their rights due to the fear of job insecurity and their immigration status. They are verging on modern slavery. Are the Government aware of their plight?
Andrew Bowie: ...in Xinjiang. We have already taken robust action, introduced new guidance on the risks of doing business in Xinjiang, enhanced export controls and introduced financial penalties under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
the Bishop of Manchester: To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the impact of section 63 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 on the operation of the UK’s modern slavery provisions (1) in prisons, and (2) across the wider population.
Tim Farron: ...taken to (a) support people who have had their asylum claim withdrawn and (b) ensure that people who have had their asylum claims withdrawn do not become victims of (i) exploitation and (ii) modern slavery.
David Rutley: ...of the diplomat or dependant. Listed below are alleged serious and significant offences reported to the FCDO by UK law enforcement agencies between 2019 - 2022. 2019 Domestic servitude/Modern Slaverya) Saudi Arabia 1 Sexual Assault Iraq 1 Fraud by abuse of position Commonwealth Secretariat 1 Causing Death by Careless Driving USA 1 Driving under the influence of alcohol Oman 1 ...
Kirsty Blackman: ...incredibly important. We have worked very hard with companies through the changes in various Acts, including improving companies’ corporate social responsibility and requiring them to make modern slavery statements. We have worked hard to ensure that companies are taking their social responsibilities seriously, and I therefore do not think that this measure is unreasonable. It would not...
Sarah Dines: The Government is committed to tackling the heinous crime of modern slavery. We are identifying more victims of modern slavery and doing more to bring perpetrators to justice than ever before. We have also introduced several initiatives aimed at preventing human trafficking and exploitation, these include: Supporting the police to tackle modern slavery, including dedicated funding totalling...
Sarah Dines: This Government is clear that targeting, grooming and the exploitation of children who are often the most vulnerable in our society is deplorable and is committed to tackling it. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 gives law enforcement agencies the tools to tackle modern slavery, including potential maximum sentences of life imprisonment for perpetrators and specific support and protection for...
Felicity Buchan: ...accordingly. Again, it is not the place of public authorities to do so. The Bill already contains an exception to the ban for considerations relating to labour market misconduct, including modern slavery and human trafficking. That means that public authorities will be able to continue having regard to territorial considerations that are relevant to a breach of international treaties...
Felicity Buchan: ...the exclusion of suppliers that are unfit to hold public contracts. That Bill sets out a wide range of exclusion grounds that target the most serious risks to public procurement, including modern slavery and human trafficking. The Cabinet Office has strengthened the way in which these terms are defined, so that suppliers may be excluded where there is sufficient evidence that they are...
Baroness Hayman of Ullock: ...for further discussion. The noble Lord, Lord Alton of Liverpool, again and again draws our attention to where we need to act on wrongs in this world. Clearly, we must do all we can to tackle modern slavery, genocide and crimes against humanity. He is right to draw our attention to the serious examples he gave us in his speech of where this is happening. We believe that procurement policy...
Lord Benyon: Our anti-slavery legislation went a long way towards requiring companies to develop robust information on their supply chains. I cannot give the noble Lord a precise answer about the amount of cotton that has come from that area, or how many of the workers involved were or were not—by our standards—properly employed. However, it is a very serious issue. The consumer can create a great...
Will Quince: ...at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ppn-0323-standard -selection-questionnaire-sq From an ethical perspective this also includes references to Social Value, Modern Slavery and Carbon Reduction policies.
Pauline Latham: ...the Gambling Commission made an assessment of the implications of its policies in 2017 when International Game Technology reported that 27% of its suppliers had a high or medium exposure to modern slavery.
...unless there has been a legal case. In so many jurisdictions, the law either is not in place or there is corruption or weak regulatory systems. The independently commissioned report on modern slavery by Frank Field, Baroness Butler-Sloss and Maria Miller drew attention to the very weak regulatory systems in the UK for implementing the Modern Slavery Act, so any reliance on the law will put...
Andrew Bowie: ...and will continue to act. We have introduced new guidance on the risks of doing business in Xinjiang, enhanced export controls and announced the introduction of financial penalties under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
