Forced Labour in UK Supply Chains (JCHR Report)

Lord Hussain Excerpts

Friday 4th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hussain (LD)]

My Lords, I am grateful to be able to speak in the gap. I join noble Lords in welcoming the noble Lord, Lord Sarwar, to this House, and we look forward to working with him. Given his new responsibility as a Trade Minister, I will ask a question or two. I do not mind receiving a reply in writing if he cannot answer the questions now. What assessment has his department made of forced labour in UK supply chains in India? India is one of the most important trading partners, with bilateral trade worth over £40 billion. But according to the Global Slavery Index, India has one of the highest absolute numbers of people in modern slavery, and the ILO and UK modern slavery assessments have repeatedly flagged up high-risk sectors, including textiles and garments, brick kilns, agriculture and leather.

My questions are threefold. First, what due diligence does the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade require of UK firms importing from high-risk regions in India? Secondly, under the developing UK-India free trade agreement, what binding labour provisions will ensure that trade does not profit from forced labour? Thirdly, what practical support, not just guidance, are the Government providing to help British SMEs which do not have large compliance teams to audit their supply chains, remediate where abuse is found and source ethically?

Safe Refugee Routes for Students

Lord Hussain Excerpts

Wednesday 8th July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

The right reverend Prelate puts his finger on an important point. The scheme that I have outlined to the House is one that the Government are currently developing. We intend to announce further details of the scheme, and we have given a date for when it will be operational. I am happy to receive representations from the right reverend Prelate and his colleagues on how we implement that scheme for countries outside the four that are in the original Question from my noble friend.

[Lord Hussain (LD)]

My Lords, I hear what the Minister said about setting temporary bars for students from certain countries. However, in relation to the students who belong to the families of Afghan interpreters who are stranded in Pakistan, is there a special provision for the children of the interpreters who worked with our forces in very difficult circumstances?

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

Again, the Government will look at all cases on an individual basis. I am aware of the issue, but I am not aware in relation to where the Government currently examine that aspect of policy. If the noble Lord will allow me, I will write to him on the specific issue of interpreters in Pakistan. Where there are legitimate claims for asylum, they will be considered under existing policies and, with the changes we are proposing, under future policy as well.

Steel Import Restrictions

Lord Hussain Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

The noble Lord is absolutely right and I congratulate the former Government on starting the conversations on the India free trade deal and the CPTPP. However, the prize is closing the deal, which we have done in government. On the assessments and all that, look, we have absolutely no intention of undermining the benefits of the trade deal for any specific sector. That is why my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Business and Trade is in India having conversations with Minister Goyal to ensure that this free trade deal is implemented as soon as possible.

[Lord Hussain (LD)]

My Lords, as I understand it, our free trade agreement with India includes a special clause on the welfare of animals, which is quite good. Is a human rights clause also included? If not, do the British Government really think that human rights in India are less important than those of animals?

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

No, we do not. Human rights are important everywhere, whether in India or any other country, and we will abide by our obligations under the international conventions on human rights.

Violence against Women and Girls Strategy

Lord Hussain Excerpts

Wednesday 17th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Non-Afl)]

My Lords—

[Lord Hussain (LD)]

My Lords, violence against women includes forced marriages, and while the statistics show that this problem is being reduced day by day, one such incident is one too many. According to government statistics, 283 cases were reported in 2023. What are the Government doing to eradicate this problem through education? It is mostly parents and elders who are involved in educating people to stop this practice.

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

The noble Lord raises an important issue, and it goes back to the point the noble Baroness made. I cannot give too much detail today, but the issue of forced marriage that that he raised, as well as the treatment of women and honour-based abuse, will be covered in the strategy. I am sorry that the 10 minutes allowed has run out, but I give the assurance, which I know the noble Baroness wished to have, that a fuller Statement will be repeated in the House early in the new year.