Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37365 on Photovoltaics: Import Controls, what steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to tackle forced labour in global supply chains in the manufacture of solar panels.

Through the reconvened Solar Taskforce, we have been working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and free from forced labour.

The Government is considering how Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 can be strengthened, including possible penalties for non-compliance, and is working to update statutory guidance. The Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February, enables public sector contracting authorities to reject bids and terminate contracts with suppliers which are known to use forced labour themselves or anywhere in their supply chain.