PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Slavery: Victims (9 September 2024)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to amend the Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance, published in May 2024, to ensure that people who (a) have been referred to the National Referral Mechanism and (b) do not have legal representation cannot have support from her Department withdrawn from them.

Asked by:
Tom Hayes (Labour)

The Government is committed to tackling modern slavery; ensuring that victims are provided with the support they need to begin rebuilding their lives and that those responsible are prosecuted.

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the UK’s framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery which works to ensure that confirmed victims receive support until they no longer have recovery needs, or until these needs are met by other services, including if this takes 12 months, or longer.

The unprecedented increase in the volume of referrals into the NRM has presented significant challenges in resourcing and workflow, and we recognise that wait times are too long. Work has been done to increase capacity for decision making, improve operational effectiveness and testing alternative approaches to decision making, but recognise that more needs to be done and are considering options. I am as keen as you to ensure that this happens.

We keep all policies and processes under review.

The Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance sets out when access to modern slavery support may be withheld and that potential victims in the NRM can choose to have legal representation. It also sets out the current prioritisation approach and priorities can change periodically in line with Ministerial arrangements under the Equality Act 2010. Any changes to the prioritisation criteria will be reflected in this guidance.

Answered by:
Jess Phillips (Labour)
17 September 2024