Potential merits of a Business, Human Rights and Environment Bill and supply chain accountability

That this House notes the vital work of Friends of the Earth in campaigning against human rights abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains providing everyday goods and services in the UK, including modern slavery, suppression of trade union rights, and deforestation linked to commodities such as timber and palm oil; recognises that the UK's current regulatory regime on responsible business conduct is patchy, largely voluntary and not fit for purpose; further notes that YouGov polling shows over 80 per cent of UK adults support new laws requiring British companies to prevent such abuses, and that more than 145,000 members of the public have called for legislation; welcomes the Department for Business and Trade's review of responsible business conduct; observes that comparable legislation exists in France, Germany and the European Union, and that the UK risks falling behind; believes that a new Business, Human Rights and Environment Bill, modelled on the failure to prevent approach of the Bribery Act 2010, would require companies and public bodies to prevent abuses in their value chains, ensure access to justice through UK courts, and create a level playing field for responsible business; and calls on the Government to bring forward such legislation in the current parliamentary session.