Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether Great British Energy is making purchases of clean energy products that (a) have and (b) are suspected of containing elements made using (i) slave and (ii) forced labour; and if he will ensure that slavery and human trafficking do not take place in its (A) business and (B) supply chains.

UK Government is committed to rooting out human rights abuses and forced labour practices from its supply chains.

There is no place for forced labour or unethical practices in the UK’s energy transition and GBE is expected to be a leading example of adherence to the UK’s legislation and longstanding position.

Clean energy supply chains are very complex, and it is extremely difficult to confirm the exact origins of their multiple components and materials. That is why, where Government has directly procured products under GBE contracts, sourcing was conducted with support from Crown Commercial Services in line with UK procurement legislation and Modern Slavery Act 2015.

GBE continues to go further and is currently formalising its independent requirements of partners and will set out further detail over the coming months. GBE is also exploring other measures, including ways to proactively reward companies that demonstrate robust performance in this area.