Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the oral contribution of the hon. Member for Sefton Central of 18 March 2021, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on concerns in respect of modern slavery in supply chains for the procurement of personal protective equipment.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I regularly meet ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues of common interest. However, it is a fundamental and longstanding principle of our system of Government that the fact of whether the Law Officers have advised on a particular issue is, by convention, not disclosed outside Government, without their consent. The Convention provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice in circumstances in which Ministers and Law Officers can be fully open with one another.
The Government is committed to tackling modern slavery in supply chains. On 26 March 2020, we became the first country to publish a Government Modern Slavery Statement setting out the steps we have taken to identify and prevent modern slavery in our own supply chains. From September 2021 onwards, Ministerial departments will publish their own annual statements setting out the steps they have taken in their priority risk areas.
The Home Office is working with DHSC, NHS and external experts to develop tailored training and guidance for HMG buyers and suppliers on best practice approaches to preventing modern slavery in PPE supply chains.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, whether the CPS plans to establish a central database of regulatory and enforcement actions taken against companies.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Crown Prosecution Service is a not a regulator but the main independent prosecuting body in England and Wales. Accordingly it does not have access to this information and would therefore not create a central database of regulatory and enforcement actions taken against companies. Company information is held at Companies House which is the responsibility of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, how many staff in the Law Officers' Departments have been recruited through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.
Answered by Robert Buckland
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer which I gave to question 217769 from the Hon Member for Manchester Central on 16th December 2014