Recommendation 46

HM Government Accepted

The Government is taking steps to address reports of forced labour in clean energy supply chains. This includes strengthened procurement rules and support for industry-led transparency initiatives, such as the Solar Stewardship Initiative. Great British Energy will follow strict ethical standards in procurement and work with civil society to help ensure supply chains are free from exploitation. DESNZ issued the Statement of Strategic Priorities to Great British Energy in September 2025. The Statement of Strategic Priorities outlined that, in line with measures set out in the Great British Energy Act, Great British Energy should proactively work to deliver on the government’s commitments to tackle forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking in its business and supply chains. It also outlined how the Secretary of State expects Great British Energy to become a sector leader in ethical supply chains. Great British Energy must develop, publish and deliver a Strategic Plan which reflects the Statement of Strategic Priorities. Great British Energy’s performance will be measured against the priorities set out in the Statement of Strategic Priorities. Over the next 12 months, Great British Energy will be required to comply with existing legislation, including the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023. Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 places a requirement on businesses with a turnover of £36m or more to publish an annual modern slavery statement, setting out the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery in their operations and supply chain. The Procurement Act 2023 will enable public sector contracting authorities, including Great British Energy, to reject bids and terminate contracts with suppliers and organisations which are known to use forced labour themselves or anywhere in their supply chain. In addition to its legal obligations, Great British Energy is taking forward other commitments to drive efforts in this area. This included a commitment to appoint a senior individual in the organisation to lead on ethical supply chains and modern slavery. Baroness Frances O’Grady has been appointed Senior Accountable Non-Executive Director for Ethical Supply Chains and will oversee the development of the organisation’s Supply Chain Risk Framework. Great British Energy are also recruiting an Ethical Supply Chains Lead with responsibility for embedding standards. In addition to embedding ethical standards at the board and operational levels, Great British Energy will also engage with industry and civil society to raise standards, explore UK-based alternatives to high-risk supply chains and work internationally to align with progressive global partners, including the Solar Stewardship Initiative. Great British Energy will publish an annual report of its activities together with its audited accounts after the end of each financial year. The first Great British Annual Report and Accounts is scheduled to be laid before Parliament in July 2026. Great British Energy will set out further updates on its progress in tackling forced labour over the next 12 months and looks forward to continuing engagement with the committee.