I shall say a few words in support of the amendment that the right reverend Prelate has moved, as I think that he made a reference to the Joint Committee on the draft Bill. Of course, it said in its report that the:
“Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) has been much praised as an internationally-respected model of good practice. The weight of evidence we received suggested that expanding the GLA’s powers and industrial remit would yield positive results”.
Those views reflect a widely held view: that the authority is an example of an effective body that UK industry helped to establish to manage and mitigate risks of slavery in the food and agriculture sector. What has been pointed out about the amendment is that it has the provision for consultation but also, within it, the power given to the Secretary of State—if the Secretary of State wants to use it; it is “may” not “must”—to amend by order the Act to sectors outside its current limited remit where evidence demonstrates that,
“abuse and exploitation of workers or modern slavery or trafficking may be taking place”.
The amendment does not require the Secretary of State to do that; it gives them the power to do it if they come to the conclusion that it is necessary and desirable to do so.
7.30 pm
The consultation goes a bit wider than was mentioned in the Joint Committee report, but it too recommended that the Government should conduct a review of the GLA including its powers, its industrial remit and its funding models and levels, and suggested that that review should be completed before the Bill received Royal Assent. Unfortunately, that has not taken place. No doubt that is one reason why the right reverend Prelate included that in his amendment, although he has rightly widened it beyond the GLA.
I hope that the Minister will be able to give a sympathetic and helpful response to the amendment, which, I repeat, does not compel the Secretary of State to extend the remit of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, but gives a Secretary of State the power to do so if he or she comes to the conclusion that that is desirable and appropriate.