Forced Labour: Supply Chains

(asked on 14th May 2026) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in implementing the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Human Rights report Forced Labour in UK Supply Chains, published on 24 July 2025, in particular its recommendation that Great British Energy and other public buyers "must ensure that solar procurement decisions are made on the basis of independent assessments and not rely solely on the Solar Stewardship Initiative to provide assurance of supply chains”.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Stockwood
Minister of State (HM Treasury)
This question was answered on 29th May 2026

The Government welcomes the recommendations made in the report, Forced Labour in UK Supply Chains. We are taking these into account as we progress the Responsible Business Conduct Review.

We have already taken action in the new Procurement Act to strengthen rules around excluding suppliers linked to modern slavery. Great British Energy (GBE) is establishing its own requirements of partners and will set out further detail over the coming months. While GBE considers the Solar Stewardship Initiative a valuable tool and partner, it is not currently a member.

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