Alicia Kearns MP’s first clause to the Energy Bill would block companies engaged in or benefitting from Uyghur forced labour, such as the Mallard Pass Solar Plant developer Canadian Solar, from building Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects in the UK.
Alicia’s clause would make this criteria for the Examination by the Planning Inspectorate, with guidance on assessing applications produced by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The clause has recently been endorsed by 15 Anti-Slavery and Uyghur Advocacy groups, who describe it as an important first step to addressing the current total lack of regulations in this area.
The second clause Alicia has tabled to the Energy Bill would ban the development of solar plants on sites over 500 acres where over 20% of the land is best and most versatile (BMV). This would prevent the current rapid loss of BMV land against DEFRA guidelines, whilst leaving flexibility within the planning system for local and national decisions where some BMV land would be lost.
Alicia Kearns, Member of Parliament for Rutland and Melton, said:
“By adopting my amendment which would require solar energy companies to prove their supply chains are free of slave labour, the Government can ensure that nationally significant infrastructure projects are far more transparent, putting an end to the UK becoming a dumping ground for slave labour-produced solar.
“I have regularly called for our Government to take a stand against all forms of slave labour, and for the sanctioning of Canadian Solar. Uyghur blood labour must not stain our countryside.
“Secondly, if we are serious about food security, we must protect our BMV land from excessive solar development. For example, if Mallard Pass were to go ahead, we will lose 2,000 acres of valuable farmland. It would be foolish to sacrifice our productive agricultural land.”
The Energy Bill will pass through the Report Stage in the House of Commons on Tuesday 5th September 2023.
The latest signatories of Alicia’s clauses (NC47 and NC48) can be found here.
You can read the Guardian’s report on Alicia’s forced labour amendment here.
