COMPANIES' SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING

That this House welcomes the Coalition commitment to reinstate an operating and financial review to ensure that directors' social and environmental duties have to be covered in company reporting; notes that social and environmental risks are known to pose financial risks to companies and their investors; believes that, if sustainability is to be integrated fully into business decision-making, it is vital that these issues are integrated fully into company reporting; further notes the concerns of investors and other stakeholders that the current reporting regime is both seriously deficient in this respect and poorly implemented; further believes that a clearer, stronger regulatory framework would bring significant financial benefits to business through improved risk management; and therefore calls on the Government to put forward robust proposals to ensure that quoted companies report accurate, balanced and reliable information on social and environmental issues, in which investors can have confidence.