{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-questionFirstAnswered.=2016-06-22T11%3A13%3A23.1Z&QuestionStatus=Tabled&legislature.prefLabel=House+of+Lords&max-ddpModified.=2020-10-19T22%3A25%3A39.258Z&dateTabled=2020-09-30", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?min-questionFirstAnswered.=2016-06-22T11%3A13%3A23.1Z&QuestionStatus=Tabled&legislature.prefLabel=House+of+Lords&max-ddpModified.=2020-10-19T22%3A25%3A39.258Z&dateTabled=2020-09-30", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-questionFirstAnswered.=2016-06-22T11%3A13%3A23.1Z&QuestionStatus=Tabled&legislature.prefLabel=House+of+Lords&max-ddpModified.=2020-10-19T22%3A25%3A39.258Z&dateTabled=2020-09-30&_metadata=all", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&min-questionFirstAnswered.=2016-06-22T11%3A13%3A23.1Z&QuestionStatus=Tabled&legislature.prefLabel=House+of+Lords&max-ddpModified.=2020-10-19T22%3A25%3A39.258Z&dateTabled=2020-09-30", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-questionFirstAnswered.=2016-06-22T11%3A13%3A23.1Z&QuestionStatus=Tabled&legislature.prefLabel=House+of+Lords&max-ddpModified.=2020-10-19T22%3A25%3A39.258Z&dateTabled=2020-09-30", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-questionFirstAnswered.=2016-06-22T11%3A13%3A23.1Z&QuestionStatus=Tabled&legislature.prefLabel=House+of+Lords&max-ddpModified.=2020-10-19T22%3A25%3A39.258Z&dateTabled=2020-09-30", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1239474", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1239474/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

We have a policy of engagement with China and our approach will remain consistent even if difficulties emerge. As we engage we will always protect our national interests and hold China to its international commitments and promises. Our approach also continues to underline our international leadership in promoting free trade, and our belief in the benefits that free trade brings. There is a broader debate at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regarding the methodology for awarding Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) to developing countries. As it currently stands there is no objective criteria for defining developing countries at the WTO and members are able to 'self-designate' as developing. The UK continues to engage on this topic at the WTO. We maintain the view that SDT should be awarded on a case-by-case, needs-based basis in the context of each WTO negotiation.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-10-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-10-13T14:45:15.443Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "208"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "China"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the response by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel on 29 September (HL Deb, cols GC49), what plans they have to initiate a national review of strategic dependency on China; what assessment they have made of China's developing nation status at the World Trade Organisation; and what plans they have, if any, to make representations to change that status.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"} ], "uin" : "HL8616"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1239475", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1239475/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

On 25 September at the 45th<\/sup> session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Government set out our grave concerns about reports of forced labour in Xinjiang. We urge businesses involved in investing in Xinjiang, with parts of their supply chains in Xinjiang, or with any other business involvement in the region to conduct appropriate due diligence to satisfy themselves that their activities do not support, or risk being seen to be supporting, any human rights violations or abuses.<\/p>

Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires certain businesses with a turnover of £36m or more, equating to approximately 16,000 businesses, to report annually on the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. The Government encourages companies to report transparently about how they are mitigating modern slavery risks and to use their modern slavery statements to demonstrate year on year progress.<\/p>

The prevalence of modern slavery and complexity of global supply chains means that it is highly unlikely that any company is immune from the risks of modern slavery. Section 54 therefore does not require organisations to certify that their global supply chains are \u2018slavery free\u2019 or that the Government verifies the content of modern slavery statements.<\/p>

The Government continues to strengthen its approach and following an Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act, the Home Office ran a public consultation on a range of proposals to strengthen Section 54. On 22 September 2020 the Government published its response to this consultation and announced plans to strengthen the Act and the transparency in thousands of business and public body supply chains by:<\/p>