Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that imported coal has been mined (a) using best practice health and safety procedures and (b) in accordance with human rights principles; and if he will make a statement.

Our policies are reducing our reliance on coal, including our announcement that we will end electricity generation from unabated coal by 2025. The UK is able to source its coal imports from a wide range of countries and we would expect producers in source countries to abide by local health and safety laws and international human rights laws.

As a founding member of the global Powering Past Coal Alliance, the UK is committed to leading by example in this area and is taking action both at home and abroad to reduce reliance on coal.

We have not been made aware of any evidence of suppliers of coal to the UK being in breach of these laws. In the first instance enforcement would be for the relevant Governmental authority but if the Hon Member has specific evidence we would encourage him to share it with officials.