Baroness Wheeler (Lab)

Again, there was certainly full consultation. I will have to write to the noble Lord on the individual quotas, but we were very concerned to ensure that there was consultation across a wide range of groups. I thank noble Lords for their valuable contributions to today’s debate and their commitment to ensuring that no goods or services procured are tainted by modern slavery. As I set out in my opening remarks, the NHS is one of the biggest buying organisations in the UK. We have a golden opportunity to leverage its purchasing power to influence supply chains in the UK, in Europe and right across the world. With this legislation, we can send a clear signal that we will not tolerate human rights abuses. I end by reminding colleagues that these regulations are about what we can do not just here in England but in eliminating modern slavery across the globe, and to say: “If you want to do business with the NHS, you must get your house in order”.