That this House agrees with the Minister of State for Trade and Investment that 'business is not just about jobs, wealth creation and delivering the goods and services ... it is also critical to achieving our environmental and social objectives' (Official Report, 30th January, column 498); believes that for business to play this role major companies need to measure, manage and report on their environmental and social impacts; notes with concern that, despite the Prime Minister's challenge to the top 350 UK companies that they should produce social and environmental reports by the end of 2001, less than half are doing so; believes this demonstrates that the voluntary approach has failed; regrets that the Performance of Companies and Government Departments (Reporting) Bill, introduced to this House by the honourable Member for Rugby and Kenilworth with cross-party support, did not receive a Second Reading; and urges Ministers either to support this Bill when it returns to the House or to bring forward the regulations promised during the debate on the Bill before the end of this session.

That this House agrees with the Minister of State for Trade and Investment that 'business is not just about jobs, wealth creation and delivering the goods and services ... it is also critical to achieving our environmental and social objectives' (Official Report, 30th January, column 498); believes that for business...