Select Committee · Foreign Affairs Committee

Xinjiang detention camps

Status: Closed Opened: 15 Sep 2020 Closed: 14 Nov 2021 36 recommendations 2 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry will examine the ways in which the UK Government can prevent UK companies from benefitting from forced labour in Xinjiang, support members of the Uyghur diaspora community, and strengthen the UK Government’s, and particularly the FCDO’s, atrocity prevention mechanisms. Read the call for evidence for more details about the inquiry

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s Responsibility to Act… HC 198 8 Jul 2021 38 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

13 items
4 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

If the Chinese government continues to stall and prevent in-country investigations, the UK should propose...

If the Chinese government continues to stall and prevent in-country investigations, the UK should propose a Human Rights Council motion that the High Commissioner for Human Rights conduct an investigation into the atrocities in Xinjiang from outside of China. The Government should also explore the prospect of a Human Rights … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, noting its ongoing efforts to pressure China for access and welcomes the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' plans to finalise and publish an assessment of available information on atrocities in Xinjiang by the end of the year, which aligns …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
9 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

The ‘D10’ model of democratic countries is a good starting point for coalition- building but...

The ‘D10’ model of democratic countries is a good starting point for coalition- building but cannot be the limit—significant diplomatic efforts should also be Never Again: The UK’s Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang and Beyond 27 focused on states in Africa, South America, Asia, the Middle East, and … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, detailing its ongoing and past diplomatic efforts to build broad international coalitions, including leading UN joint statements, coordinating asset freezes with 29 other countries, and using its G7 Presidency to address the situation in Xinjiang.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
10 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

We recommend that the Government commits financial and bureaucratic resources to ensuring future Build Back...

We recommend that the Government commits financial and bureaucratic resources to ensuring future Build Back Better World projects meet all internationally recognised standards, including on labour rights, environmental measures, and transparency.

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to strong environmental, social, financial, labour, governance, and transparency standards at the heart of its G7 partnership approach, building on agreed multilateral standards for quality infrastructure.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
12 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

For sanctions to be effective, they must be used in full coordination with allies and...

For sanctions to be effective, they must be used in full coordination with allies and against those with whom ultimate responsibility for the Xinjiang atrocities lies. We recommend that the Government intensify efforts to coordinate sanctions with allies to consistently sanction senior individuals and entities with the most responsibility for … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government highlights its past coordinated sanctions with allies against Chinese officials and entities for abuses in Xinjiang, and commits to continuing to keep potential listings under review and working closely with allies on future action.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
14 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

The Government should conduct an urgent consultation with members of these communities in the UK...

The Government should conduct an urgent consultation with members of these communities in the UK to determine the extent of harassment they are facing and the type of support they require, offering support and protection as appropriate.

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to conduct further consultation with the Uyghur community to understand their challenges and use findings to inform government policy.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
19 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

In its response to this report, we ask that the Government inform us of when...

In its response to this report, we ask that the Government inform us of when the Department for International Trade will share the export review’s findings and actions with Parliament.

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing that the Department for International Trade will report back to Parliament at the conclusion of its urgent review of export controls as they apply to Xinjiang.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
25 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

The Government should share Post-level intelligence on specific risk areas and factors with UK companies...

The Government should share Post-level intelligence on specific risk areas and factors with UK companies operating in China when appropriate to do so, to ensure it contributes to and supports private sector due diligence within the country.

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating it already provides detailed guidance to UK companies operating in China, drawing on information from its overseas network, and commits to keeping this guidance updated.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
26 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

The Government should use information gained from local sources, Posts, and civil society to identify...

The Government should use information gained from local sources, Posts, and civil society to identify specific factories and companies that make use of forced labour and prohibit them from importing to the UK through the sanctions regime. (Paragraph 51) Never Again: The UK’s Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government highlights existing measures and previously announced actions, including some sanctions and supply chain due diligence, as their approach to tackling forced labour and does not commit to a new process of identifying specific factories for import bans via sanctions.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
27 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

The UK should press for the International Labour Organization to conduct a full investigation of...

The UK should press for the International Labour Organization to conduct a full investigation of the Xinjiang region in order to verify the extent of forced labour there as a matter of urgent priority. (Paragraph 52) Technology and research

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, noting they have already made a joint statement to the ILO to investigate forced labour in Xinjiang and will continue to press the ILO on this priority.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
28 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

Where a Chinese institution possesses known or suspected links to repression in Xinjiang, or substantial...

Where a Chinese institution possesses known or suspected links to repression in Xinjiang, or substantial connections to Chinese military research, UK universities should avoid any form of technological or research collaboration with them. They should also conduct urgent reviews of their current research partnerships, terminating them where involved parties are … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government details a range of existing measures and support mechanisms already in place to help universities manage risks and make informed decisions regarding international research collaborations, including new guidance, export controls, and a new advice team. It commits to keeping this support under review, …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
29 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

We recommend that the Government fund and manage the creation of a regularly- updated due...

We recommend that the Government fund and manage the creation of a regularly- updated due diligence and intelligence database to provide universities with a directory of Chinese institutions and companies that possess strong or suspected connections to technology-aided human rights abuses. The FCDO should convene a panel to oversee and … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government does not commit to funding a new due diligence database or convening a new panel, stating that existing security guidelines published by Universities UK, which advise universities on risk management and due diligence, are currently judged appropriate. They will continue to keep their …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
36 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

The Government should commit to funding further such research, which is doing vital work to...

The Government should commit to funding further such research, which is doing vital work to expose those injustices which the Communist Party of China is eager to hide. (Paragraph 66) Conclusion

Government response AI summary
The government explicitly accepts the recommendation and commits to funding further valuable research on the human rights situation in Xinjiang.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
38 Conclusion Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted

While we commend the ongoing work of the UK Government in speaking out and leading...

While we commend the ongoing work of the UK Government in speaking out and leading on the issue of Xinjiang at the United Nations, we are concerned that its actions do not match its rhetoric and have so far proved ineffective. A crisis of this scale requires a cross-government, cross-sectoral, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the report's concerns and the need for further action, outlining a range of robust actions already undertaken, including leading UN statements, imposing sanctions, and raising concerns with China. They state they have addressed each of the Committee's 36 recommendations in full.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
27 Apr 2021 Nigel Adams, Paul Williams · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Rupert Ainley · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office View ↗
13 Apr 2021 Azeem Ibrahim · US Army War College, Charles Parton OBE · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Peter Irwin · Uyghur Human Rights Project, Rayhan Asat · American Turkic International Lawyers Association, Rushan Abbas · Campaign for Uyghurs View ↗
2 Mar 2021 Chloe Cranston · Anti-slavery International, Dr Radomir Tylecote · Civitas, Dr Samantha Hoffman · Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), Sophie Richardson · Human Rights Watch View ↗
9 Feb 2021 Andrew Opie · British Retail Consortium (BRC), Damien Sanfilippo · Better Cotton Initiative, Peter McAllister · Ethical Trading Initiative View ↗
12 Jan 2021 Ambassador Stephen Rapp · Office of Global Criminal Justice, Dr Gregory Stanton · Genocide Watch, Dr Kate Ferguson · Protection Approaches, Dr Simon Adams · Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Nicola Reindorp · Crisis Action View ↗
15 Dec 2020 Dolkun Isa · World Uyghur Congress, Nury Turkel · United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin · University of Minnesota Law School, Schona Jolly QC · Bar Human Rights Committee View ↗

Who gave evidence

24 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Ambassador Stephen Rapp · Former United States Ambassador-at-Large Office of Global Criminal Justice 1
Andrew Opie · Director of Food and Sustainability British Retail Consortium (BRC) 1
Azeem Ibrahim · Research Professor, Strategic Studies Institute US Army War College 1
Charles Parton OBE · Senior Associate Fellow Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) 1
Chloe Cranston · Head of Thematic Advocacy Programmes Anti-slavery International 1
Damien Sanfilippo · Director of Standards & Assurance Better Cotton Initiative 1
Dolkun Isa · President World Uyghur Congress 1
Dr Gregory Stanton · Founding President and Chairman Genocide Watch 1
Dr Kate Ferguson · Co-Executive Director Protection Approaches 1
Dr Radomir Tylecote · Director, Defence and Security for Democracy Unit Civitas 1
Dr Samantha Hoffman · Senior Analyst Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) 1
Dr Simon Adams · Executive Director Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect 1
Nicola Reindorp · Deputy Executive Director Crisis Action 1
Nigel Adams 1
Nury Turkel · Commissioner United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 1
Paul Williams · Director Open Societies and Human Rights Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 1
Peter Irwin · Senior Program Officer for Advocacy and Communica… Uyghur Human Rights Project 1
Peter McAllister · Executive Director Ethical Trading Initiative 1
Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin University of Minnesota Law School 1
Rayhan Asat · Attorney, Yale World Fellow, President American Turkic International Lawyers Association 1
Rupert Ainley · Interim Director North East Asia and China Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 1
Rushan Abbas · Founder and Executive Director Campaign for Uyghurs 1
Schona Jolly QC · Chair Bar Human Rights Committee 1
Sophie Richardson · China Director Human Rights Watch 1

Correspondence

36 letters
DateDirectionTitle
19 May 2021 Correspondence with the International Labour Organisation relating to Xinjiang,…
19 May 2021 Correspondence from Minister Nigel Adams following his appearance before the Fo…
19 May 2021 Correspondence with UK Research and Innovation relating to Xinjiang, dated 11/0…
28 Apr 2021 Correspondence with UNESCO relating to Xinjiang, dated 21/04/2021 and 22/03/2021
21 Apr 2021 Correspondence with the University of Surrey relating to Xinjiang, dated 13/04/…
21 Apr 2021 Correspondence with the University of Strathclyde relating to Xinjiang, dated 1…
14 Apr 2021 Correspondence with Imperial College London relating to Xinjiang, dated 31/03/2…
14 Apr 2021 Correspondence with The Royal Society relating to Xinjiang, dated 31/03/2021 an…
24 Mar 2021 Correspondence with River Island relating to Xinjiang, dated 16/03/2021 and 01/…
24 Mar 2021 Correspondence with TJX Europe relating to Xinjiang, dated 17/03/2021 and 03/03…
24 Mar 2021 Correspondence with Russell Group relating to Xinjiang, dated 22/03/2021 and 18…
17 Mar 2021 Correspondence with Mountain Warehouse relating to Xinjiang, dated 11/03/2021 a…
10 Mar 2021 Correspondence with UNESCO relating to Xinjiang, dated 05/03/2021 and 18/02/2021
10 Mar 2021 Correspondence with Barbour relating to Xinjiang, dated 04/03/2021 and 19/02/20…
3 Mar 2021 Correspondence with Ikea relating to Xinjiang, dated 01/03/2021 and 15/02/2021
24 Feb 2021 Correspondence with Tesco relating to Xinjiang, dated 16/02/2021 and 02/02/2021
24 Feb 2021 Correspondence with Asda relating to Xinjiang, dated 10/02/2021 and 27/01/2021
24 Feb 2021 Correspondence with Matalan relating to Xinjiang, dated 15/02/2021 and 02/02/20…
24 Feb 2021 Correspondence with JD Group relating to Xinjiang, dated 16/02/2021 and 03/02/2…
24 Feb 2021 Correspondence with Hobbycraft relating to Xinjiang, dated 18/02/2021 and 15/02…