§ Linda PerhamTo ask the Prime Minister if he will instruct the Performance and Innovation Unit to investigate the need for legislation on corporate social responsibility. [50081]
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is responsible for corporate social responsibility. She will be issuing a report in mid-May 2002 'Business in Society' which will report on developments in corporate and social responsibility in the UK.
The Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) have already considered the international aspects of corporate social responsibility in the "Rights of Exchange" report of September 2000. This is available on the PIU website (www.piu.gov.uk).
As stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Halton (Mr. Derek Twigg) on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 93W, I have also asked the PIU to undertake a project to review the legal and regulatory framework for charities and the wider voluntary and community sector and bring forward proposals for reform. This includes some consideration of issues of corporate social responsibility.