Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will take steps to require companies to adopt a more compassionate corporate social responsibility for their operations overseas.

The UK has consistently supported the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on business and human rights, an international framework which encourage businesses to voluntarily conduct due diligence approaches to respecting human rights.

The Government is clear that it expects all UK businesses to respect human rights throughout their operations, in line with the UNGPs and use responsible business conduct guided by international frameworks and domestic legislation. We will continue to work with our international partners and UK & multinational businesses to seek positive change in responsible business conduct. By doing so, this will expand global prosperity and further UK values and influence.