Fifth Report - Uyghur forced labour in Xinjiang and UK value chains

The government acknowledges the committee's findings and expresses thanks, stating its commitment to ensuring UK organizations are not complicit in human rights violations in Xinjiang.

The government offers a general acknowledgment, thanking the committee and stating its broad commitment to ensuring UK organizations are not complicit in human rights violations in Xinjiang.

The government thanks the Committee for its recommendations to businesses but does not specifically address the call for TikTok to publish independently verified governance and data flow arrangements, instead offering generic statements.

The government thanks the committee for its report and reiterates its commitment to ensuring UK organisations are not complicit in human rights violations in Xinjiang, but does not specifically address the committee's disappointment regarding The Walt Disney Company.

The government thanked the Committee and stated its commitment to ensuring UK organisations are not complicit in human rights violations in Xinjiang, but did not outline specific urgent actions or how the Department will 'do more' as recommended.

The government rejected the recommendation to review the Company Directors Disqualification Act, stating they are not convinced of the case to pursue this approach at this time due to proportionality concerns regarding penalties for failing to publish modern slavery statements.

The government rejects the recommendation for a new Director-led working group, stating that an existing cross-Government working group established in August 2020 already coordinates action on human rights in Xinjiang, including supply chain transparency.

The government will not create the requested public whitelist/blacklist but announced that the FCDO will provide guidance to UK government bodies to exclude suppliers with sufficient evidence of human rights abuses in their supply chains on a case-by-case basis. They also highlighted existing guidance for businesses and a new government-run registry for modern slavery statements.

The government defends the pioneering nature of the Modern Slavery Act but acknowledges the need for improvement, stating it committed to strengthening the legislation in September 2020. It reiterates its expectation for businesses to be vigilant and conduct due diligence.

The government notes this conclusion and details actions taken or planned to address corporate governance and audit regulations, including working with the Home Office on Modern Slavery Act enforcement, publishing a White Paper consultation on audit, and planning to legislate on corporate transparency.

The government partially accepts the recommendation, committing to strengthen the Modern Slavery Act 2015 by extending reporting requirements to public bodies, enhancing transparency through a new digital service, and introducing financial penalties, to be legislated as parliamentary time allows.

The government states that BEIS has worked with the Home Office to support the development and strengthening of modern slavery statement provisions, but provides no specific commitment or plan for the committee's recommendations.

The government's response discusses the development and enforcement of modern slavery statements, which does not address the committee's disappointment regarding Magnitsky sanctions on Chinese officials.

The government states that it has already imposed asset freezes and travel bans against those responsible for human rights violations in Xinjiang on March 22, and announced a review into export controls on January 12.

The government agrees transparency is important for ODA funding in China and states its commitment to improving data management. It highlights existing measures, including a 'Good' transparency score, new data systems, and a recent ICAI audit finding its approach robust, which it argues ensures effective oversight.

The government agrees on the importance of transparency for ODA funding in China and states it is committed to improving data management. It highlights existing robust measures, including anti-slavery provisions in allocation letters and a recent ICAI audit finding its approach robust, which address the recommendation.

The government agreed on the need for greater transparency and is introducing a new digital data submission tool for Newton Fund partner organisations to report detailed expenditure, individual grants, and awards, which will help address the request for a list of organisations and sums of money.