Child Slavery (Hansard, 26 April 2001)

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with(a) cocoa importers and (b) UK-based chocolate manufacturers on the working conditions of those who produce the crop in the country of origin. [158966]

§ Mr. Wilson
The UK is firmly committed to eradicating slavery and bonded labour worldwide. I have spoken to the Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionery Alliance. My Department has also been in touch with the Cocoa Association. Both assured us they were addressing the issues of child and slave labour in cocoa production. We are looking at ways we can work together to increase this effort and further meetings will be held in the future.

§ Dr. Tonge
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionary Alliance regarding the issue of slavery in West African cocoa plantations; and if he will make a statement. [158980]

§ Mr. Wilson
The UK is firmly committed to eradicating slavery and bonded labour worldwide. I have spoken to the Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionery Alliance, who assured me they were determined to address the issues of child and slave labour in the production of cocoa. We are looking at ways we can work together to increase this effort and further meetings will be held in the future.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring of child employment and slavery is undertaken by UK representatives in(a) Benin, (b) Nigeria, (c) Cameroon, (d) Senegal, (e) the Ivory Coast and (f) Ghana; and if he will make a statement on Government policy in this respect. [158967]

§ Mr. Battle
The UK is firmly committed to eradicating slavery and bonded labour worldwide. The UK played a leading role in drafting and securing agreement to the International Labour Convention 182 on the worst forms of Child Labour, which in West Africa has been ratified by Chad, Central African Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. The UK closely monitors the human rights situation in the region. We are working with international and non-governmental organisations to address the problem of child slavery, and are looking at what more we can do to increase these efforts.