Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the impact of the use of the powers contained within the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 on combating modern slavery and supporting the objectives of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Modern slavery is a barbaric crime that dehumanises people for profit. The Government is committed to tackling it in all its forms and continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies and prosecution services to strengthen the operational response, to ensure we use every tool to pursue perpetrators and that victims are supported to recover from this horrendous abuse.
The Home Office Bulletin on Asset Recovery enables us to review how the powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 are being utilised by law enforcement in modern slavery cases.
The value obtained from orders in modern slavery cases can fluctuate depending on the specifics of each case and the criminal proceeds involved. There has been a consistent upward trend in the imposition of confiscation orders since the financial year 2021, however, we recognise more can be done to disrupt criminal enterprises and support victims of modern slavery through compensation.
That is why a key part of the Government’s work with the police and criminal justice partners is to encourage the use of financial investigations at the earliest opportunity in modern slavery cases. Through the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit (MSOIC), funded by the Home Office, guidance and training has been delivered to forces to both enhance understanding of modern slavery among financial investigators, and to support Senior Investigating Officers’ use of financial investigation techniques.
Alongside this work, the National Crime Agency is also working with the banking sector through the Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce to identify red flags in financial transactions and alert these to the authorities.
During Anti-Slavery week last October, the Safeguarding Minister hosted roundtables with law enforcement agencies, criminal justice partners and Non-Government Organisations to get a better shared understanding of the criminal justice challenges. Over the next year, the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit will lead work to develop a national framework for the investigation of modern slavery, to support police forces to secure better criminal justice outcomes, including through increased use of asset recovery powers.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government on how many occasions in the last 10 years the "chosen lifestyle choice" contained in Schedule 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been cited in prosecutions and convictions of those profiting from modern slavery.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Modern slavery is a barbaric crime that dehumanises people for profit. The Government is committed to tackling it in all its forms and continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies and prosecution services to strengthen the operational response, to ensure we use every tool to pursue perpetrators and that victims are supported to recover from this horrendous abuse.
The Home Office Bulletin on Asset Recovery enables us to review how the powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 are being utilised by law enforcement in modern slavery cases.
The value obtained from orders in modern slavery cases can fluctuate depending on the specifics of each case and the criminal proceeds involved. There has been a consistent upward trend in the imposition of confiscation orders since the financial year 2021, however, we recognise more can be done to disrupt criminal enterprises and support victims of modern slavery through compensation.
That is why a key part of the Government’s work with the police and criminal justice partners is to encourage the use of financial investigations at the earliest opportunity in modern slavery cases. Through the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit (MSOIC), funded by the Home Office, guidance and training has been delivered to forces to both enhance understanding of modern slavery among financial investigators, and to support Senior Investigating Officers’ use of financial investigation techniques.
Alongside this work, the National Crime Agency is also working with the banking sector through the Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce to identify red flags in financial transactions and alert these to the authorities.
During Anti-Slavery week last October, the Safeguarding Minister hosted roundtables with law enforcement agencies, criminal justice partners and Non-Government Organisations to get a better shared understanding of the criminal justice challenges. Over the next year, the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit will lead work to develop a national framework for the investigation of modern slavery, to support police forces to secure better criminal justice outcomes, including through increased use of asset recovery powers.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are reviewing the National Referral Mechanism for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery; and, if so, what they expect the review to cover.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to tackling modern slavery, prosecuting those responsible and supporting victims in their recovery.
To ensure the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) system operates as effectively as possible, we will launch a public consultation on how the Government can improve the process of identifying victims of modern slavery. This was something that the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls committed to on 27 March in a House of Commons debate marking the tenth anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Lord Moreas made similar remarks on 28 March in a House of Lords debate on the Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee Report.
This consultation will be developed in the coming months and will focus on definitions of a victim of modern slavery, improving identification and decision-making processes, and futureproofing the modern slavery system. A key aim will be to strengthen the system’s credibility, ensuring it effectively serves victims of modern slavery while also being resilient to any challenges that could affect its integrity.
The Government will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 8 December 2021 (HLWS439), what plans they have to publish the review of asylum seeker right to work policy.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government will later this year publish a new white paper on immigration covering a wide range of issues, including enforcement of the rules governing eligibility to work.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the manifesto Putting victims first: renewing the UK’s commitment to victims of trafficking and modern slavery, published in July 2024 by a coalition of modern slavery organisations.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government continues to engage with the coalition of NGOs referred to and a wide range of experts and stakeholders keeping all aspects of asylum and immigration systems under regular review including in relation to trafficking and modern slavery.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to review the policy to prevent asylum seekers from working while awaiting a decision on their applications; and what assessment they have made of providing this opportunity to applicants who are victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, can apply for permission to work in jobs on the Immigration Salary List.
Where a victim of modern slavery is seeking asylum, we may allow earlier permission to work on an exceptional basis. In these cases, consideration will be given to that individual’s physical, psychological and social recovery.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk that Falun Gong practitioners in the UK, including Shen Yen performers, are subjected to transnational repression by the government of China, and what plans they have to support Falun Gong practitioners.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief, including protecting the rights of Falun Gong Practitioners and their performance group, Shen Yun.
We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take protection of individuals' rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously. Any attempt by any foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK will not be tolerated.
We have a broad suite of powers to counter foreign interference, including those actions which amount to transnational repression. We will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to keep people safe.
On 4 March 2025, the Security Minister announced a new package of training which will allow frontline police officers and staff to increase their understanding of the threats that foreign powers present. This training will increase law enforcement's ability to detect criminal activity which may be state-directed, and strengthen public confidence in the UK's response.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many cargo flights from Urumqi in China to Stansted Airport carrying e-commerce goods for department stores have been searched by UK border officials to ensure they are not carrying goods made by Uyghur forced labour since this route was established in December 2024.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government encourages businesses to monitor their global supply chains with rigour, uncover and remedy any instances of modern slavery they may find. Under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, commercial businesses who operate in the UK and have a turnover of £36 million or more must report annually on the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery in their operations and supply chains by publishing an annual modern slavery statement.
The Home Office is currently working with a wide group of stakeholders to update the Section 54 statutory guidance. This will further support businesses to produce high quality statements, which are underpinned by effective measures to prevent and effectively respond to instances of modern slavery in supply chains.
Border Force does not routinely assess whether goods on freight entering the UK may have been made using forced labour, but we work closely with law enforcement partners to share intelligence to ensure all goods abide by customs and excise rules.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government on how many occasions since 2019 (1) illegal bush meat products and (2) other illegal, non-compliant or contaminated meat products have been confiscated at ports of entry to the UK; where and when these confiscations occurred; from which countries these confiscated products originated; and which species were confiscated.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
This information requested is not available.
We cannot provide any data on the species of animal any meat seized is from, or on the countries from which the meat originated. The data does not distinguish between 'meat' and 'bush meat’, and it does not specify why the meat was seized.
We also do not release details of the location as this information could risk undermining border security by providing intelligence in our resource deployment and targeting to smuggling networks.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions ministers have had, if any, with European Cargo about undertaking due diligence and screening the company's cargo on routes from Urumqi to Cardiff International Airport and Bournemouth Airport.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Border Force does not routinely assess whether goods on freight entering the UK may have been made using forced labour, but we work closely with law enforcement partners to share intelligence to ensure all goods abide by customs and excise rules.
The Government encourages businesses to monitor their global supply chains with rigour, uncover and remedy any instances of modern slavery they may find. Under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, commercial businesses who operate in the UK and have a turnover of £36 million or more must report annually on the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery in their operations and supply chains by publishing an annual modern slavery statement.
The Home Office is currently working with a wide group of stakeholders to update the Section 54 statutory guidance. This will further support businesses to produce high quality statements, which are underpinned by effective measures to prevent and effectively respond to instances of modern slavery in supply chains.