Local MP questions minister on forced labour in UK’s solar supply chain

Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough and a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has questioned the Minister of State for Industry in Parliament about the role of forced labour in the UK’s solar supply chain. There are concerns that the supply chain for the UK solar industry may include products produced using forced labour in China’s Xinjiang region. 

The Solar Stewardship Initiative is a collective group of members of the industry, along with regulators and the Government, established with the aim to ensure that the solar industry in the UK is free from forced labour. 

A roadmap for increasing the use of solar in the UK is due to be published next month, and Tom asked the Minister whether she thought that that should contain strategy for excluding forced labour. Tom also asked the Minister to address concerns that the SSI is not independent enough from the industry, which may lead to less ambitious aims and reduced accountability, whilst also superseding the Solar taskforce. 

Commenting, Tom said: 

 

“We cannot allow products produced using forced labour to be sold in the UK. Whilst removing them from our supply chains can be tricky, that is not an excuse for not putting the work in.

“The Government’s plans to expand the solar industry are to be applauded, but it cannot come at the expense of people overseas. I will continue to hold them to a high standard to make sure that their plans are up to scratch.”

ENDS