Question reference: S6W-09230
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 17 June 2022
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Current status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) initial and (b) full human rights due diligence checks it has conducted since it published its Guidance on due diligence: human rights.
Answer
The Guidance on due diligence: human rights for investment sets out recommendations on how we, our executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) should undertake appropriate due diligence on companies, including their human rights record, before entering into an investment relationship with them. This advice aims to enhance existing due diligence checks, and is referenced in the Scottish Public Finance Manual. The majority of private investment relationships are entered into, and managed, by Scottish Government agencies and NDPBs. It is for the accountable officer of each agency and NDPB to ensure that their organisation complies with guidance issued by Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Government does not maintain a record of the number of checks carried out.