Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to continue the Review of Civil Legal Aid; and if so, when they intend to publish a final report.

Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We are committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the civil legal aid sector and are keen to work closely with practitioners and their representative bodies to look at how best we can address this.

We want to understand the different ways in which the justice system can be improved and will be carefully considering our options on the way forward. This includes considering the evidence on civil legal aid gathered over the past year.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase fees payable for (1) barristers, and (2) solicitors, undertaking legal aid cases.

Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We want to understand the different ways in which the justice system can be improved and will be carefully considering our options on the way forward, including with regards to legal aid. We acknowledge that the sustainability of the profession is central to a successful legal aid system.

We will carefully consider the evidence including, for example, information gathered as part of the Review of Civil Legal Aid.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the £25,000 cap on grants under Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme in 2025–26 will apply to works (1) which are at tender stage with finances committed, (2) which are currently in progress, and (3) in relation to which contracts have been signed.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We expect the cap will be applied to all claims received on or after 1 April 2025. We will provide published guidance on scheme applications and eligibility in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how the recruitment of more modern slavery case workers announced in October 2024 will improve National Referral Mechanism waiting times for conclusive grounds decisions for women, which, according to recent data from the International Organization for Migration, are 16 months longer than for men.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government inherited a system in which decision-making times were too long and that is why we made it a priority to reduce these via the recruitment of additional 200 decision makers. This will support all victims, and the backlog of cases has already reduced significantly,

NRM statistics are published and can be found here Modern slavery: NRM and DtN statistics, October to December 2024 - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether their forthcoming Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy will consider victims of sexual exploitation in the light of recent data from the International Organization for Migration showing that fewer women and girls are being supported through the National Referral Mechanism.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is working closely with law enforcement to tackle the drivers of trafficking for sexual exploitation, including through law enforcement operational intensifications aimed at tackling modern slavery threats and targeting prolific perpetrators. We are currently considering policy options on how we can best support those impacted by sexual exploitation, including in the context of our violence against women and girls strategy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much income the NHS has received from immigration health surcharge payments in each of the last two financial years.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office collects the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Devolved Health Administrations (DHAs). After deducting administration/collection costs, the Home Office transfers the balance to DHSC and the DHAs through the Estimates process, according to the Barnett Formula population percentages.

Information on the income raised by the IHS is published annually in the Home Office Annual report and Accounts. Note that the IHS total is made up of both amounts of Retained Income and amounts payable to the Consolidated Fund.

During the 2022-23 financial year, the IHS generated £1,706m.

During the 2023-24 financial year, the IHS generated £1,782m.

Information on the income for the 2024-25 financial year will be available once the accounts are published later this year.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review. The Home Office undertook an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) and an Impact Assessment (IA) alongside the IHS increase.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the changes to the qualification period for indefinite leave to remain apply to people who are already living and working in the United Kingdom or whether the changes will apply to new visa applicants only.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at the time.

Found: meeting Members present: Baroness O’Grady of Upper Holloway (The Chair); Baroness Barker; The Lord Bishop of Bristol

Found: During the session on 15th April 2024, The Lord Bishop of Bristol and Baroness Barker requested further

Found: meeting Members present: Baroness O’Grady of Upper Holloway (The Chair); Baroness Barker; The Lord Bishop of Bristol

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the steps the Church is taking to help tackle (a) modern slavery and (b) human trafficking.

Answered by Marsha De Cordova

Modern slavery remains hidden in British society, and the National Church Institutions of the Church of England take human trafficking and modern slavery seriously. With the support of the then Prime Minister Theresa May, the Church set up the Clewer Initiative in 2017 as its response to the prevalence of modern slavery, developing several tools for addressing modern slavery through the 'Car Wash' and 'Nail Bar' apps, and creating resources for identifying and tackling the exploitative agricultural and social care labour, sexual exploitation, and county lines trafficking

The Clewer Initiative continues to work closely across the Church in its parishes and dioceses to raise awareness through engagement with police, support and information services, and direct work with victims of trafficking in communities. You can find out more about their work here: https://theclewerinitiative.org. As the Clewer Initiative is in the process of becoming a separate charity, the National Church Institutions cannot provide a more detailed assessment of their work

The parishes of the Church of England are, through the clergy and congregations, committed to tackling the issues of modern slavery and offering support and signposting to victims on an ongoing basis

The Church Commissioners have continued at a global level to challenge the businesses in which they invest to tackle modern slavery in their supply chains. Details about the policies of the National Investing Bodies towards Human Rights, modern slavery, and combating trafficking can be found here: human-rights-advice-and-policy.pdf. Page 38 of the Church Commissioners' stewardship report also gives more details about how the Church Commissioners are addressing modern slavery in the companies in which they invest: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/6677_cc_stewardship_v11b_0.pdf

The Lord Bishop of Bristol, who serves as the Church's lead Bishop on modern slavery, continues to advocate for more action on modern slavery through her work in Parliament with the Government and civil society. London has the highest number of reported cases of modern slavery, and the Diocese of London has recently launched a campaign and resources to inform, support and address this issue. More information can be found here: https://www.london.anglican.org/church-and-parish-support/compassionate-communities/refugees-asylum-seekers-modern-slavery/responding-to-modern-slavery/?searchterm=modern+slavery

National Church Institutions staff are also receiving training to help them spot signs of modern slavery and how to access help for those affected.

Safeguarding in Faith Communities APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Room C, 1 Parliament Street Present: Parliament Ruth Jones MP, Labour (Co-Chair) The Lord Bishop of Bristol