VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Tea: Procurement

Asked by Martin RhodesLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 17 June 2025UIN 58865

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to help tackle (a) exploitative and (b) environmentally unsustainable purchasing practices in the tea sector.

Answered by Mr Douglas Alexander

The UK has a range of measures in place to promote responsible business conduct across the economy. The Government also supports voluntary due diligence approaches taken by UK businesses to identify and prevent human rights abuses and environmental harms across their operations, purchasing practices and supply chains, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

We will continue to assess and monitor the effectiveness of these existing measures, alongside the impacts of new policy tools, to ensure we can best promote responsible business practices and take action where appropriate.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim