Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministerial Statement

UK Supply Chains: Uyghur Forced Labour

03 December 2024 · 13 other contributors

Opened by Douglas Alexander Lab Co-op Lothian East

ImmigrationForeign AffairsBusiness & Trade

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Douglas Alexander raised concerns about uk supply chains: uyghur forced labour in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • UK addresses forced labour in global supply chains under section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015
  • Commercial businesses with a turnover of 36 million or more must report annually on efforts to prevent modern slavery
  • Department for Business and Trade negotiates forced labour provisions in free trade agreements and suspends preferential trading arrangements when necessary

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Government Statement

Douglas Alexander

The UK addresses forced labour in global supply chains under section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which requires commercial businesses with a turnover of £36 million or more to report annually on their efforts to prevent modern slavery. The goal is transparency and rigorous monitoring by businesses. Additionally, the Department for Business and Trade takes steps such as negotiating forced labour provisions in free trade agreements and suspending preferential trading arrangements if there are serious violations of labour rights. UK Export Finance also reviews environmental, social, and human rights risks. Concerning Xinjiang specifically, the Government remains firm on human rights issues despite China's actions against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.

Other contributors (13)
  • Sarah Champion Lab Rotherham

    Question

    The shadow member expresses concern over weak product label regulations allowing misleading information on slave-made products from Xinjiang. She questions the necessity of stronger labelling standards to inform consumers and discusses serious human rights abuses in Xinjiang, affecting industries such as clothing, steel, and solar. She criticises the current Modern Slavery Act for being ineffective compared to US and EU legislation.

    Minister reply

    The minister acknowledges the shadow's concerns and confirms that the Government will investigate the claims made by BBC regarding tomato paste from Xinjiang. He highlights that the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have raised human rights issues with China. The UK expects companies to follow OECD guidelines on responsible business conduct, and he mentions reviewing legislation in other countries like the US for potential import bans to prevent slave-made goods entering their markets.

  • Harriett Baldwin Con West Worcestershire

    Question

    I congratulate the hon. Member for Rotherham on securing the urgent question... Can the Minister confirm that the audit will cover trade and the issue of goods in the UK supply chain that are produced in Xinjiang? Will the impact of the accelerated roll-out of electric vehicles and solar panels be audited as part of this process?

    Minister reply

    I thank the Opposition spokesperson for her characteristically kind and generous words... On previous occasions when I have visited China as a Government Minister, I have raised the issue of human rights, and I will continue to endeavour to do so. On the hon. Lady’s rather ungenerous observations about the growth mission, it is perfectly possible for a Government to set themselves a clear ambition to raise the UK economy’s trend rate of growth, and to continue to be a strong and powerful advocate for human rights in China and elsewhere.

  • Joe Morris Lab Hexham

    Question

    Does the Minister agree that forced labour is a threat to supply chains and to the resilience of our economy not just in our food sector, but across our entire economy?

    Minister reply

    I am in full agreement with my hon. Friend. For businesses to be able to invest and thrive, they need confidence in their supply chains... The taskforce will ensure that the Government work with business to address the risks, including by exploring wide-ranging policy solutions and other mitigations.

  • Daisy Cooper Lib Dem St Albans

    Question

    May I press him to tell us the timetable for doing that review?

    Minister reply

    I thank the hon. Lady for her observation... In that sense, the review and the desire to understand the impact of the Act are informed by more recent innovations, such as those in the United States, the EU and Canada.

  • John Slinger Lab Rugby

    Question

    Is he confident that current legislation is sufficient to compel businesses operating in the UK to address the risks of modern slavery?

    Minister reply

    Notwithstanding the concerns that have been expressed in the Chamber about the existing statutory framework, we need to send a clear and unequivocal signal... There are already rules in place to compel companies to publish statements demonstrating that they have met their very clear legal obligations.

  • Iain Duncan Smith Con Chingford and Woodford Green

    Question

    Will we move towards checking all supply chains, and put legislation in place to make it a criminal offence to have anything to do with slave labour?

    Minister reply

    Let me pay tribute to the right hon. Gentleman for his sustained effort on, and interest in, these issues... Secondly, as I have said, we intend to look carefully at whether lessons can be drawn from other jurisdictions.

  • Imran Hussain Lab Bradford East

    Question

    What measures have the Government taken in the light of that landmark decision? What protection is there, and what accountability measures are in place?

    Minister reply

    It is important to draw a distinction between the legislative approach taken by some jurisdictions... Notwithstanding the ruling of which the hon. Gentleman speaks, the obligations on companies predate that ruling and are set out very clearly in the Modern Slavery Act.

  • Karen Bradley Con Staffordshire Moorlands

    Question

    When the Modern Slavery Act was introduced in 2015, section 54 was indeed world leading. We were the first developed country to introduce any such legislation, but other countries have overtaken us. May I urge the Minister to look at introducing a form of regulation that would put the onus on the importer to prove that no forced labour was used to make a product before it was allowed to enter the UK supply chain, as happens in the US?

    Minister reply

    I pay tribute to the right hon. Lady for her work during and after the passage of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Government recognise that the landscape has changed since the Act was introduced, and we are considering all the Home Affairs Committee’s recommendations on this issue, which were recently published.

  • Jonathan Davies Lab Mid Derbyshire

    Question

    I welcome the urgent question and the response from the Minister, because the oppression that the Uyghur people face is absolutely appalling and shameful. Can I encourage the Minister to keep those relationships under review, and to reach out to retailers and distributors, so that our response changes in the light of the situation that we face?

    Minister reply

    My hon. Friend makes a powerful point, which is that we want to do this with business rather than to business. We will listen carefully to the voice of retailers, but recognise the rapidly changing and evolving supply chains.

  • Brendan O'Hara SNP Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber

    Question

    Further to the question from Karen Bradley, the US State Department has reported that products tainted by slave labour have been found in homes around the world. Given that UK regulations are ineffective, will the Government look to introduce something similar to the US provisions in the UK?

    Minister reply

    The hon. Gentleman is right; since 2022, the US has operated an import ban targeting goods from Xinjiang under the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act. We view import controls as one of the range of tools that could be used to tackle forced labour in global supply chains.

  • Julian Lewis Con New Forest East

    Question

    Is not the root of the problem successive British Governments willing to cuddle and cosy up to a communist totalitarian state, while trying to preserve some pretence of distancing themselves from direct human rights abuses? In reality, is it not the case that as long as we try to have major economic relations with a totalitarian state, it will always be possible for that state to divert slave labour products to its domestic economy and export other products?

    Minister reply

    The right hon. Gentleman’s comments reflect the disastrous foreign policy mistakes of former Governments; however, our approach since 4 July has been pragmatic and based on a clear-eyed sense of Britain's national interest.

  • Caroline Johnson Con Sleaford and North Hykeham

    Question

    My constituents are angry that this Government wants to cover Lincolnshire’s beautiful countryside with solar panels, ruining the landscape and damaging food security. When does he plan to introduce import controls, and what are the further measures?

    Minister reply

    I am not in agreement with the hon. Lady’s opposition to solar farm development. The net zero transition should not compromise on the clear provisions of the Modern Slavery Act; we place clear obligations on those seeking to import goods into the UK.

Shadow Comment

Sarah Champion

The shadow criticises the current approach as ineffective following a BBC investigation revealing slave labour in tomato products sold in UK supermarkets. She calls for stronger labelling standards to inform consumers about product sourcing countries, citing severe human rights abuses in Xinjiang involving state-imposed forced labour and torture. The Modern Slavery Act is deemed insufficient since it allows companies to self-regulate without mandatory due diligence requirements, unlike legislation enacted by the US and EU.

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