Committee looks at business and human rights
30 June 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Representatives from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Tesco plc and BP plc are among the witnesses appearing before the Joint Committee on Human Rights, as its inquiry into business and human rights continues at 1.45pm.
Appearing before the Committee will be:
At 1.45pm:
- Gary Campkin, Head of International Group, CBI
At 2.30pm:
- Sir Brian Fall, Senior Government & Corporate Relations Consultant, Rio Tinto
- Paul Lister, Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary, Associated British Foods plc (parent company of Primark)
- Lucy Neville-Rolfe CMG, Executive Director, Corporate and Legal Affairs, Tesco plc
- Steve Westwell, Group Chief of Staff, BP plc
The Joint Committee is investigating the way in which businesses can affect rights both positively and negatively; how business activities engage the relative responsibilities of the UK Government and individual businesses; and whether the existing UK regulatory, legal and voluntary framework provides adequate guidance and clarity to business as well as adequate protection for individual rights.
The Committee previously heard evidence from Professor John Ruggie, UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, on 3 June 2009.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights, consists of twelve members appointed from both the Commons and the Lords. It is charged with considering human rights issues in the UK and undertakes thematic inquiries on human rights issues and reports its findings and recommendations to the House. It scrutinises all Government Bills and picks out those with significant human rights implications for further examination.