Government Supply Chains: Cotton

Lord Rooker Excerpts

Thursday 24th April 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Rooker]

To ask His Majesty’s Government, following the publication of A Guide for commercial and procurement professionals regarding tackling modern slavery by the Government Commercial Function in March 2024, whether they have identified any products in government supply chains containing cotton grown in Xinjiang, China.

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent) (Lab)]

My Lords, before I answer the substantive Question, I want to be clear that abhorrent human rights abuses—including modern slavery and human trafficking—have no place in public supply chains. They affect not only our values and moral standing as a nation but the integrity of our procurement routes.

The Cabinet Office does not centrally hold any specific data on the country of origin of cotton-containing products within government supply chains. As has been referenced, there is extensive guidance for commercial teams to assess the risks and impacts associated with modern slavery.

The Government are committed to continuing strong action in this area. The updated national procurement policy statement was published in February 2025. The NPPS sets out the Government’s strategic public procurement priorities. As part of these priorities, contracting authorities should have regard to ensuring their suppliers are actively working to tackle modern slavery and human rights violations.

[Lord Rooker (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend the Minister for that Answer, but is she aware that 22% of the world’s raw cotton is grown in the Xinjiang region of China? China is a world leader in hiding supply chains to obscure the supply. In some countries, half of their cotton products are actually made from cotton grown in Xinjiang. Why have both Governments stuck to paper-based tracing systems and the word of traders when it is possible to use forensic element analysis of products to find out which region they were grown in? We have been taken for a ride by China in this respect, because we are not using modern technology. If it is good enough not to buy solar panels from Xinjiang, it is damn well good enough not to wear cotton products made from cotton grown by slave labour.

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for the Question, for the work he has done and for raising this on several occasions. Of course we need to use new technology, but I want to be clear that the Government spend £385 billion across the public service every year. My noble friend is absolutely right about being able to assess where all cotton comes from; we will be able to determine where it came from, but not who cut it, so it will get us only so far. We need to make sure that the right training is in place for our buyers and our suppliers to make sure that we have a supply chain that is free from modern-day slavery.