Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what engagement the Government had with civil society groups at the negotiations for a UN Binding Treaty in October 2022; and if he will support the Treaty.

The UK Government has consistently supported the United Nations Guiding Principles on business and human rights, which are widely regarded as the authoritative international framework to steer practical action by Governments and businesses worldwide on this important agenda.

The UK has engaged with the UN Working Group looking at proposals for a new international treaty on business and human rights. The UK attended its eighth session in October 2022, setting out the UK's position via a statement which expressed our concerns on the current approach towards a treaty. The UK values the participation of civil society organisations in these negotiations.