WEIR CALLS FOR GREATER COMPANY RESPONSIBILITY

Angus MP Mike Weir, SNP Spokesperson on Trade and Industry, speaking in the House of Commons during a debate on the Company Law Reform Bill, has called upon the government to accept that those adversely affected by the actions of UK companies in developing nations should have access to the courts in this country to seek redress.

Mr Weir cited the example of the horrendous environmental and health damage caused in the Niger delta in Nigeria by oil exploration and urged Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling to accept that the affected people should have a right of redress.

Commenting on the call Mr Weir said that this was an issue on which he had received representations from all over Angus.

“There is undoubtedly an increasing interest in ethical consumerism and this is reflected in the huge interest across Angus in this issue. Many companies have found themselves under consumer pressure because of unethical practises in the developing world.”  

“It is completely unacceptable that large multinational companies based in the UK should be able to get away with actions in developing nations that would not be tolerated in the UK .The fact of the matter is that there is little real prospect of taking action in the courts of many developing nations and the only way to enforce proper Corporate Social Responsibility is by allowing access to the UK courts.”

“Globalisation can have a positive face. We can export best practise from developed nations to developing nations and improve the lot of everyone rather than driving down living standards and exploiting those unable to resist.”

“The government’s refusal to contemplate this change will render the clauses in the bill on social responsibility almost meaningless.”