Written Question
Thursday 22nd July 2021
Asked by:
Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question
to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to (a) the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 16 June 2021, Official Report, column 287, (b) the oral contribution of the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of 12 January 2021, Official Report, column 162, (c) the Answer of 25 June 2021 to Question 16783 on Import Controls: China, (d) the Answers of 5 July 2021 to Questions 24880 and 24881, (e) the Answer of 12 July 2021 to Question 28048 and (f) in accordance with the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 7 July 2021, Official Report, column 901, if she will clarify whether the UK (i) has or (ii) plans to implement import controls on goods made in China believed to be the product of forced labour.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
HM Government is committed to tackling the issue of forced labour in global supply chains, including through strengthening the Modern Slavery Act, and the introduction of financial penalties for businesses that fail to meet their statutory obligations.
Whilst we do not have plans to place import controls on goods from China, we have announced a range of other measures, including a comprehensive review of export controls. We are working closely with international partners too. Last month, under our G7 Presidency, G7 leaders committed to work together to make sure that global supply chains are free from the use of forced labour.
Written Question
Friday 25th June 2021
Asked by:
Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question
to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister of 16 June 2021, Official Report, what progress her Department has made on implementing import controls on goods from China to the UK which are believed to be the product of forced labour including in the supply chain.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
On 12th January, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced a series of measures to help make sure that British businesses and the public sector are in no way complicit in violations of rights and responsibilities in Xinjiang.
This included a review of export controls to make sure we are doing all we can to prevent the export of goods that may contribute to such violations. This review is ongoing and we will report its outcome to Parliament in due course.
Import controls and export controls are governed by different processes and legislation. HM Government has only announced plans to review export controls. We do not have plans to place import controls on goods from China at present.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 22 Mar 2021
Trade Bill
"Will my right hon. Friend give way?..."Iain Duncan Smith - View Speech
View all Iain Duncan Smith (Con - Chingford and Woodford Green) contributions to the debate on: Trade Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 22 Mar 2021
Trade Bill
"I beg to move amendment (a), to leave out from House to “with” and insert “agrees”.
I rise to continue the debate that has been going on among us about what constitutes a fair and reasonable settlement with the Government. I started by moving the amendment standing in my name, …..."Iain Duncan Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 22 Mar 2021
Trade Bill
"Yes; I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his comments. The problem is that this Lords amendment incorporates the original Neill amendment in its entirety and makes two adjustments. First, there are already trade arrangements with China, but they are pushed aside in this. It can only be an …..."Iain Duncan Smith - View Speech
View all Iain Duncan Smith (Con - Chingford and Woodford Green) contributions to the debate on: Trade Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 22 Mar 2021
Trade Bill
"My hon. Friend is making a speech that contradicts the Government’s position right now. The Government do not believe that what this House, or a joint House, would do is decide that genocide has taken place, so, in a sense, he is quite a long way towards our amendment...."Iain Duncan Smith - View Speech
View all Iain Duncan Smith (Con - Chingford and Woodford Green) contributions to the debate on: Trade Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 09 Feb 2021
Trade Bill
"The answer to this question is very simple. Ministers cannot direct Select Committees. Select Committees will go where they think it is necessary. So with this amendment, Select Committees will feel completely free to look at anything, regardless of what the Government say that the bar is on that. That …..."Iain Duncan Smith - View Speech
View all Iain Duncan Smith (Con - Chingford and Woodford Green) contributions to the debate on: Trade Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 09 Feb 2021
Trade Bill
"Will my right hon. Friend give way?..."Iain Duncan Smith - View Speech
View all Iain Duncan Smith (Con - Chingford and Woodford Green) contributions to the debate on: Trade Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 09 Feb 2021
Trade Bill
"Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. That is a very short time, so I will do my level best to get my three points across.
I just want to say something about the procedure today. Of course, we would not be sitting here if it was not in order for these …..."Iain Duncan Smith - View Speech
View all Iain Duncan Smith (Con - Chingford and Woodford Green) contributions to the debate on: Trade Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 09 Feb 2021
Trade Bill
"That is why, I say gently to my right hon. Friend the Minister, in my amendment I deliberately locked in the idea that if the Government want to sift this by looking at Select Committees first, that is fine, but I think they should have the power to refer it …..."Iain Duncan Smith - View Speech
View all Iain Duncan Smith (Con - Chingford and Woodford Green) contributions to the debate on: Trade Bill