Select committee: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee
Recommendation 7
Fifth Report - Uyghur forced labour in Xinjiang and UK value chains
Published 17 Mar 2021
Paragraph 45
Addressed to Department for Business and Trade
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee Forced labour in UK value chains All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The Government cannot stand idly by while some companies keep operating with wilful blindness. We recommend the creation of a Director-led working group within the Department to tackle the ongoing lack of transparency in supply chains specifically linked to the use of forced labour of, but not limited to, Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The working group should coordinate action across Government in relation to the enforcement and strengthening of business compliance with relevant legislation, UN diplomacy, Magnitsky sanctions and human rights declarations.
From: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee, Fifth Report - Uyghur forced labour in Xinjiang and UK value chains (HC 1272), paragraph 45, 17 March 2021
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 10 June 2021 (deadline 17 May 2021).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government sets out measures on Xinjiang forced labour and the Modern Slavery Act, but is "not convinced of the case" for reviewing the Company Directors Disqualification Act and is "not currently considering" a director-led working group or a whitelist.
- On the Modern Slavery Act, the government "partially accepts these recommendations". It will introduce financial penalties for failing to publish annual statements, with details "in due course", and is "committed to amending the legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows".
- On a Director-led working group, the government "is not currently considering" one, citing existing cross-government structures, but "notes the recommendation" and keeps governance structures "under review".
- On whitelists and blacklists, the government "is not currently considering" a whitelist, saying it would be "impossible" to verify comprehensively whether tens of thousands of companies have taken action. It will continue a "collaborative approach".
- On ODA funding in China, BEIS "agrees that there is a need for greater transparency" in Newton Fund use and is introducing a new digital data submission tool for partner organisations.