Government expects UK retailers to increase standards in Bangladesh

The government has told ITV News tonight that they will expect UK retailers to make more effort to drive up standards in Bangladesh, and should take responsibility for their whole supply chain "from the store right back to the sewing machine".

• Read: British firms face ethical dilemmas in Bangladesh

Department for International Development minister Alan Duncan has been visiting victims of the Rana Plaza disaster in Dhaka today and is promising an extra £18 million to improve the skills of people working in Bangladesh's massive garment trade.

It follows a letter from his boss, Justine Greening to 20 major retailers, summoning them to a meeting in Westminster in the next couple of weeks.

• Read: Government to pressure British firms on human rights overseas

It is now more than a month on from the disaster at Rana Plaza where over 1100 people lost their lives, but the UK government among others appears reluctant to let the pressure on retailers drop.

The question of course is whether consumers choose to change their behaviour and avoid retailers who don't make the effort.

• Read: Behind the walls of Bangladesh's garment factories

Alan Duncan said: