英国議会の書面による声明・質問・回答・陳述

In the Trade Strategy, the Government committed to an evidence-based review of the UK’s approach to promoting Responsible Business Conduct (RBC), to assess whether our current framework remains fit for purpose. This highlighted areas where the UK’s approach could be strengthened and today, I am updating the House on the Government’s proposed action to address those findings. In our review, we found the UK’s current framework for preventing forced labour to be fragmented and overly reliant on voluntary action and reporting measures. While the Modern Slavery Act 2015 was world leading at the time of its introduction, international standards and legislative practice have since moved on leaving the UK out-of-step with G7 partners and other major trading economies. While plans to strengthen the Modern Slavery Act through the Immigration and Asylum Bill are an important step, we recognise that further action is needed to bring us in line with key partners. Having carefully considered our findings alongside the Government's commitments on economic growth, reducing administrative burdens and maintaining the integrity of the UK internal market, we have concluded that a phased and proportionate approach is appropriate. The Government's priority is to focus on those interventions most likely to deliver tangible improvements for workers, consumers and businesses, while ensuring reforms are practical, targeted and capable of being implemented at pace. We will legislate to introduce a mandatory human rights due diligence regime across the UK for services, and in Great Britain for goods. Only the largest businesses, with the capability and leverage to manage these risks within their supply chains, will be in scope. It will apply to UK businesses with a global turnover of over £350 million, as well as non-UK businesses with a UK-generated turnover of over £350 million. These businesses will be required to identify, assess and address risks of human rights abuses and labour exploita