PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Human Trafficking: Victim Support Schemes (28 November 2018)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Home Office's national referral mechanism reform guidance published in October 2018 and the High Court judgement on AM & K versus SSHD, whether the plans to make the cuts proposed as part of the national referral mechanism reforms will still go ahead in February and March 2019.

Asked by:
Dame Siobhain McDonagh (Labour)

The Home Office has paused the staged implementation of the alignment of subsistence rates for potential victims of modern slavery with those received by asylum seekers, which was due to start in February 2019, whilst it considers the implication of the judgment in AM and K vs SSHD.

We will work through the implications of the judgment in respect to our future approach to financial support, and will share further details as soon as we are able. The Home Office has immediately reinstated the top up paid to those in the Victim Care Contract who are also receiving support from the asylum support system, so that they receive a total of £65 per week whilst this work is carried out.

We are committed to reforming the National Referral Mechanism to ensure that as many victims of modern slavery as possible

Answered by:
Victoria Atkins (Conservative)
7 December 2018