Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the (a) maximum and (b) minimum penalty is for non-compliance with section 54 of the Modern Slavery Action 2015.

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 made the UK the first country in the world to require large commercial organisations to report on how they prevent modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. The Act’s transparency provisions were introduced to help civil society, consumers and investors hold businesses to account, galvanise action to address modern slavery risks and help create a level playing field for responsible businesses.

Under the current provisions, if a commercial organisation does not comply with the duty to provide a modern slavery statement, the Home Secretary can apply for a court injunction which mandates compliance.

Following the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act, the Government launched a public consultation on proposals to strengthen the transparency chains legislation, including extending transparency reporting to the public sector, mandating the areas which statements must cover and introducing a civil penalty scheme for non-compliance.

The Home Office is currently analysing responses to this consultation and will respond in due course.