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Lord Bates promises post legislative scrutiny of the bill will take place, but the government believe the normal process of scrutiny being carried out by parliamentary committees is preferable to "ad hoc and potentially inconsistent specific statutory requirements in individual bills."

Given Lord Bates assurance's that post legislative scrutiny will take place, Lord Alton withdraws his amendment.

Which brings business in the House of Lords to a close. Peers will be back tomorrow from 11.00 GMT where the main business will be two balloted debates: firstly, on the case for enabling economic leadership for cities; and secondly, on the case for new global development goals in 2015.

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It's just been announced that this evening's short debate on the report of the Communications Committee on media plurality led by the Committee chair, Lord Inglewood, will be suspended until a later date. So things will be concluding after this amendment.

House of Lords
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Peers turn to their final amendment of the evening, which would require the Home Secretary to provide a report on the bill's implementation within five years after it becomes law.

Tabling the amendment Lord Alton says post legislative reviews of legislation, like this, are like "motherhood and apple pie, in that everyone appears to be in favour of it, but unlike motherhood and apple pie, it's not much in evidence".

This amendment would ensure "vital" post legislative scrutiny took place he says.

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Lord Bates says Lord Alton's objective is part of the government's "long term strategy" but warns there are many stages to go through first.

He agrees to meet with the peers who supported Lord Alton's amendment between now and report stage to discuss the issue further, and Lord Alton agrees to withdraw the amendment.

House of Lords
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Crossbench peer Lord Alton of Liverpool tables an amendment which would force big businesses to publicise statements on the action they have taken to ensure their supply chains are slavery free, that the Modern Slavery Bill would require them to produce.

He says in the bill as its currently drafted, neither "the content of what is reported, nor the location of the report" are likely to produce the "meaningful, accessible and comparable information that's so essential to take a proper view of what companies are doing to tackle slavery in their supply chain."

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Shadow home office minister Lord Rosser says that current requirements on companies included in the bill do not "go far enough" but withdraws his amendment.

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House of Lords
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Peers are now debating a series of amendments aimed at tackling slavery in supply chains by improving transparency - requiring companies selling products or services in the UK to demonstrate that they have been seeking to ensure slave labour has not been involved in their supply process.

House of Lords
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Responding to the debate, Baroness Garden of Frognal says that the GLA is already equipped to tackle slavery. She tells peers that while it is natural to want to extend the body's remit quickly, rushed measures could undermine the body's "good work".

The GLA is a small body that "performs a targeted role in an effective way" she says, which plays a role in the broader tackling of slavery.

She argues that sweeping changes run the risk of overwhelming the organisation.

Baroness Butler-Sloss withdraws her amendment, which, she says, she knew the government wouldn't accept, but says she hopes the government will think about the issues raised during the debate.

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The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) is the regulating body for workers in the shell fish, agriculture, food, and food packaging labour markets.

The GLA was established after the result of the 2004 Morecambe Bay cockling disaster to prevent the exploitation of workers in the food production sector.

House of Lords
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Peers are now debating a series of amendments aimed at extending the remit of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to fight slavery.

Tabling an amendment to allow the government the option to look into extending the authority's powers, former high court judge Baroness Butler-Sloss says thereare huge concerns over the use of slave labour in the construction industry and hospitality industry.

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Baroness Cox says that ministers "totally underestimate" the scale of the problem and the vulnerability of the workers.

She says the government is not offering "very reassuring alternatives" to her amendment but she agrees to withdraw it, suggesting she may table a similar amendment at a later date if changes to the bill are not made.

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Government spokeswoman Baroness Garden of Frognal says current visa regulations already provide protection to overseas workers living in slavery.

If overseas workers leaving their employment to seek police or government assistance, "that is not considered an abuse of their visa", she tells peers. Such workers would be treated as victims and given appropriate support.

Those bringing overseas workers in to the country must prove to immigration officials they have had a pre-existing working relationship and provide evidence that workers have agreed to the terms of their employment - a system which also allows officials to check for a bonded labour relationship.

Meanwhile, those trafficked into the UK are protected under trafficking legislation, the National Referral Mechanism and provisions in this bill, she says.

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MPs have raced through a packed agenda to reach an early end to business in the Commons.

Join us tomorrow from 9.30 GMT for debates on the fishing industry, and Ukraine and UK relations with Russia.

And Labour MP Ben Bradshaw has an adjournment debate on NHS services in Devon, which follows the announcement that smokers and the morbidly obese could be denied routine surgery unless they quit smoking or lose weight.

It follows his question on the subject during PMQs today.

We still have plenty more debate left in the House of Lords though, so stay with us as peers scrutinise the Modern Slavery Bill at committee stage.

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Conservative peer Baroness Hanham says that overseas workers are becoming "hidden victims" of slavery and the current visa system is forcing them to fight "with one hand tied behind their back".

Many of the victims are from foreign countries, with little grasp of the English langue and so can't access protections currently offered to them, she says.

"People don't know they're there, they can't get out, they can't get attention and they are abused.

"We can't really just ignore it," she adds.

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Justice Minister Andrew Selous, responding to the debate on stress among prison officers, says the National Offender Management Service is "on target" to recruit further officers to help reduce pressures on existing staff.

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Peers are debating an amendment to reintroduce the UK's pre-2012 visa regulations to protect overseas domestic workers from slavery, including the right to change employers. Many overseas workers are tied to one employer by their visa.

Baroness Cox, the founder of the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust, tells peers that the bill as it stands "unintentionally strengthened the hand of the slave master against the victim of slavery" which completely undermines the intentions of the bill.

She describes the current situation, in which overseas worker are tied to a single employee, as "bonded labour". Without the freedom to resign, workers cannot "challenge or question anything their employers choose to do to them", she says.

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Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd raises the subject of overcrowding in prisons.

The risk of violence increases with overcrowding, he argues, which means a greater risk for prison officers.

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Peers agree to a series of government amendments to require suspected slavery cases to be referred to the home secretary, who can pass them to a specialist unit for investigating potential cases of slavery, rather than the National Crime Agency.

House of Commons
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A survey by the Prison Officers Association on work-related stress and wellbeing was published in November.

The key findings of the survey revealed 84% of respondents felt under pressure to come into work when they felt unwell.

According to the survey, none of the Health and Safety Executive's standards for work-related stress have been met.

The report revealed that work-related stress and "failure to cope" is very stigmatised in the sector and is unsupported.