Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will review the impact of UK firms on working conditions in other countries.

The FCDO does not have plans to conduct a review of the impact of UK firms on working conditions in other countries.

The UK Government is a strong advocate for promoting and implementing established international principles and frameworks - such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (through the UK's National Action Plan) and the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises - which encourage businesses to protect and improve human rights and the environment across their operations and supply relationships. The UK is committed to the eradication of all forms of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking (Sustainable Development Goal 8.7) by 2030.

The FCDO's Supply Partner Code of Conduct provides a mechanism to ensure that organisations delivering services or goods for the government provide both value for money and behave ethically. This is embedded proportionately within all FCDO contracts, holding suppliers responsible and accountable for ethical behaviour, safeguarding, social responsibility and human rights. Membership of the UN Global Compact on Business and Human Rights is a requirement for suppliers with commercial contracts.