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Select Committee · Human Rights (Joint Committee)

Forced Labour in UK Supply Chains

Status: Closed Opened: 16 Jan 2025 Closed: 13 May 2026 31 recommendations 26 conclusions 1 report

The inquiry will examine the UK’s current legal and voluntary framework in relation to forced labour in international supply chains, and whether it is effective in managing forced labour exposure risks in the UK market, or if changes are required.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
6th Report - Forced Labour in UK Supply Chains HC 633 24 Jul 2025 57 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
54 Conclusion 6th Report - Forced Labour in UK Supply… Accepted in Part

It is currently too difficult for individual survivors to access the courts in the UK...

It is currently too difficult for individual survivors to access the courts in the UK when they have been subject to forced labour abroad in the supply chains of UK companies. (Conclusion, Paragraph 270)

Government response AI summary
The government states the Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) review will consider measures to support responsible business, including a 'failure to prevent' obligation. They have also established the Office for RBC (ORBC) to provide a non-judicial dispute resolution mechanism for victims, aiming to improve accessibility to …
Read full response →
Ministry of Justice

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
7 May 2025 Daniel Cox · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Matthew Davies · Cabinet Office, Sarah Jones · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business and Trade View ↗
23 Apr 2025 Alex Murray · National Crime Agency, Eleanor Lyons, Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Phillip Holliday · Border Force View ↗
19 Mar 2025 Chris Hewett · Solar Taskforce, J.J. Messner de Latour · Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), John Morrison · MG Alba, Katharine Bryant · Walk Free View ↗
5 Mar 2025 Dr Roger Barker · Institute of Directors (IoD), Mr Craig Melson · techUK, Mr Oliver Holland · Leigh Day, Mr Scott Steedman CBE · British Standards Institution (BSI), Professor Olga Martin-Ortega · University of Greenwich View ↗
22 Jan 2025 Michael Rudin · BBC, Professor Alexander Trautrims · Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham, Rahima Mahmut · World Uyghur Congress View ↗

Who gave evidence

18 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alex Murray · Director of Threat Leadership National Crime Agency 1
Chris Hewett · Co-Chair Solar Taskforce 1
Daniel Cox · Deputy Director Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1
Dr Roger Barker · Director of Policy and Corporate Governance Institute of Directors (IoD) 1
Eleanor Lyons, Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner — 1
J.J. Messner de Latour · Sector Lead, Purchasing Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) 1
John Morrison · Chair MG Alba 1
Katharine Bryant · Director of Operations Walk Free 1
Matthew Davies · HR Deputy Director Cabinet Office 1
Michael Rudin · Executive Producer, BBC Eye Investigations BBC 1
Mr Craig Melson · Associate Director techUK 1
Mr Oliver Holland · Partner Leigh Day 1
Mr Scott Steedman CBE · Director-General British Standards Institution (BSI) 1
Phillip Holliday · Central Region Director Border Force 1
Professor Alexander Trautrims · Associate Director Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham 1
Professor Olga Martin-Ortega · Leader of the Business, Human Rights and Environm… University of Greenwich 1
Rahima Mahmut · UK Director World Uyghur Congress 1
Sarah Jones · Minister for Industry Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business and Trade 1

Correspondence

22 letters
DateDirectionTitle
16 Oct 2025 — Correspondence from the Minister of State for Trade to the Committee regarding …
25 Jul 2025 — Correspondence to the Committee from the Minister of State for Industry regardi…
18 Jul 2025 — Correspondence to the Committee from the Secretary of State for Business & Trad…
10 Jul 2025 — Correspondence to the Committee from the NCA regarding the Forced Labour in UK …
10 Jul 2025 — Correspondence to the Committee from the Minister for Energy regarding the Forc…
3 Jul 2025 — Correspondence to the Committee from the Chair of Great British Energy regardin…
13 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from the Committee to the Minister for Energy relating to Forced…
13 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from the Committee to Mr Alexander Murray relating to Forced Lab…
13 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from the Committee to Mr Juergen Maier relating to Forced Labour…
13 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from the Committee to the Secretary of State for Business and Tr…
13 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from the Committee to the Minister for Industry relating to Forc…
12 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from the Committee to the Minister for Energy relating to Forced…
12 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from The Rt Hon the Baroness May of Maidenhead relating to Force…
12 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from the Minister of state for Industry Department for Energy Se…
12 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from The Minister for Energy relating to Great British Energy’s …
12 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Business & Trade and President o…
12 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from the National Crime Agency relating to Forced Labour dated 1…
12 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from the Committee to Secretary of State for Business and trade …
15 May 2025 — Correspondence from the Committee to the Secretary of state for Business and Tr…
8 Apr 2025 — Correspondence from the Committee to the Minister of Energy regarding Human Rig…