Third Special Report - Uyghur forced labour in Xinjiang and UK value chains: Government Response to the Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2019–21

This is the government's response, published 10 June 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.

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