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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will hold discussions with his (a) Colombian and (b) US counterpart on ending the use of child labour in the mining of coal in Colombia.

The Department is not aware of any evidence to suggest that Colombian coal that is imported to the UK is the product of child labour. On this basis it is not considered necessary for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to engage representatives from Colombia or the United States. If there is evidence to the contrary I would continue to encourage my hon. Friend to share it with Departmental officials.