Asked by: Lord Bishop of Bristol (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish further details about any changes to the routes of entry to the UK for overseas domestic workers.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Our broad approach for January 2021 will be to maintain the existing provisions for overseas domestic workers, expanding this route to include EU citizens.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Bristol (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the results of the seasonal workers pilot.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The outcome of the Seasonal Workers Pilot will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Bristol (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether overseas domestic workers will still be eligible for visas to work and reside in the UK after 1 January 2021.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Our broad approach for January 2021 will be to maintain the existing provisions for overseas domestic workers, expanding this route to include EU citizens.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Bristol (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what long-term support services they plan to provide to survivors of trafficking to protect them from being re-trafficked and to ensure that they are supported when the COVID-19 lockdown ends.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
This Government is committed to stamping out modern slavery and providing victims with the support they need to rebuild their lives.
The Victim Care Contract aims to lift victims of modern slavery out of exploitation and establish a pathway to rebuild their lives. The Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) informs a tailored move-on plan for confirmed victims, with the aim of establishing longer-term stability by helping victims transition out of VCC support and back into a community, as appropriate. Where this is not possible, VCC support will continue to meet the victim’s ongoing recovery needs.
The safety and security of those supported through the modern slavery Victim Care Contract (VCC) is a top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are continually reviewing how essential services can best be maintained and delivered to ensure victims receive and have the means to access the support they need at this time. To ensure our support system remains robust, we have adapted the method by which victims receive financial support. A new card payment solution has been rolled out to allow victims to receive their payments without requiring a cash transaction or a face-to-face meeting with a support worker. These pre-paid cards for users can be used online, in shops or in cash machines.
The policy change announced on 6 April mean individuals who are accommodated in the VCC, will have continued access to this accommodation until at least the 6 July 2020. The policy will be reviewed before the end of June in respect of the Government’s latest covid-19 advice. This change, alongside the existing support mechanisms within the contract will ensure that vulnerable individuals are not left without the essential support they need at this challenging time.
As the public health restrictions are lifted, we are committed as ever, to support victims and protect them from re-trafficking.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Bristol (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that the level of subsistence support given to victims of modern slavery during the COVID-19 pandemic is sufficient to meet essential needs.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
This Government is committed to stamping out modern slavery and providing victims with the support they need to rebuild their lives.
The Victim Care Contract aims to lift victims of modern slavery out of exploitation and establish a pathway to rebuild their lives. The Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) informs a tailored move-on plan for confirmed victims, with the aim of establishing longer-term stability by helping victims transition out of VCC support and back into a community, as appropriate. Where this is not possible, VCC support will continue to meet the victim’s ongoing recovery needs.
The safety and security of those supported through the modern slavery Victim Care Contract (VCC) is a top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are continually reviewing how essential services can best be maintained and delivered to ensure victims receive and have the means to access the support they need at this time. To ensure our support system remains robust, we have adapted the method by which victims receive financial support. A new card payment solution has been rolled out to allow victims to receive their payments without requiring a cash transaction or a face-to-face meeting with a support worker. These pre-paid cards for users can be used online, in shops or in cash machines.
The policy change announced on 6 April mean individuals who are accommodated in the VCC, will have continued access to this accommodation until at least the 6 July 2020. The policy will be reviewed before the end of June in respect of the Government’s latest covid-19 advice. This change, alongside the existing support mechanisms within the contract will ensure that vulnerable individuals are not left without the essential support they need at this challenging time.
As the public health restrictions are lifted, we are committed as ever, to support victims and protect them from re-trafficking.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Bristol (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in their proposal to provide places of safety for victims of modern slavery.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Places of safety’ would provide support to adult victims of modern slavery leaving situations of immediate exploitation. They would receive accommodation, assistance and advice for up to 3 working days, allowing them time to consider if they wish to be referred to the National Referral Mechanism. A provision for Places of Safety has been included in the tender for The Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC) which will replace the current contract. We are nearing the end of the tender process, and the contract will be awarded in due course.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Bristol (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 9 March (HL1722), when they will publish an impact assessment for the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill 2020; and whether any such assessment will consider the relationship between changes in low-skilled migration and labour exploitation.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
An impact assessment is being developed and will be published in due course.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Bristol (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of a reduction in low-skilled migration on the incidence of modern slavery.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government has been clear that free movement is ending, and a new immigration system will be introduced from January 2021.
We recognise this represents significant change. The Government is committed to eradicating exploitation within the labour market and migrant workers are no exception. The Government is committed to identifying potential victims of modern slavery and will continue to ensure needs-based support is available, regardless of an individual’s immigration status.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Bristol (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the risk of labour shortages in the event of changes to immigration rules, and (2) the possibility of the exploitation of workers as a consequence of these shortages; and what steps they intend to take to ensure that workers are protected.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government has been clear free movement is ending, and a new immigration system will be introduced from January 2021. The independent Migration Advisory Committee has been clear immigration is not the solution to addressing shortages in the labour market.
The Government is committed to tackling labour exploitation across all sectors of the labour market and protecting workers’ rights. Through the Immigration Act 2016, we have widened the remit of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority giving it new powers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 to investigate serious labour market offences.
We recently ran a public consultation on the establishment of a new Single Enforcement Body for employment rights. We will publish a response to this consultation in due course.