Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support her Department has provided to British citizens from Hong Kong living in the UK who have had bounties placed on their heads by the Chinese government.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)
It is the first duty of government to keep its citizens safe. Attempts to intimidate and silence individuals in the UK by foreign powers, including China, are unacceptable. The protection of individuals’ freedoms, and safety is of the upmost importance. Where individuals are identified as being of heightened risk, we are proactive in the deployment of protective security guidance and other measures as appropriate. Anyone who is concerned for their safety should contact the police in the first instance.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support her Department provides to UK residents threatened by agents of authoritarian regimes overseas.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)
The first duty of any government is to keep the country safe and protect its citizens. The UK does not tolerate attempts by any state to threaten or intimidate UK residents. We continually assess potential risks and take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety very seriously. This involves taking a proactive approach to countering the most acute forms of state-directed threats to individuals.
We will continue to implement measures in the National Security Act 2023, which make the UK a harder target for those states which seek to conduct hostile acts.
Home Office officials work closely with operational partners, the FCDO and other government departments to ensure that UK residents are safe and secure. Where individuals have concerns for their safety, they are advised to contact their local police in the first instance.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussion she has had with Cabinet colleagues on preparations for the next Modern Slavery Victim Care contract.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government has robust internal assurance processes in place to manage and assure projects and programmes. The programme to procure a replacement for the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (Support for Victims of Modern Slavery (SVMS)) is following these assurance processes, which includes approval from and discussion with key Government Departments. The SVMS programme has also spoken to Cabinet Office throughout the preparations for going to market and as part of the approval processes.
The Home Office has undertaken a thorough market health assessment and conducted extensive supplier engagement for the SVMS programme, comprising a mix of Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and private sector organisations. The Home Office’s approach is to keep the opportunity open to different types of organisations – including charities and private sector - to ensure the Government harnesses the full range of capabilities across the supply chain delivering the best outcomes for victims of modern slavery. By adopting this approach, the SVMS programme will ensure it secures sustainable and resilient solutions that deliver economic and social value for UK taxpayers.
For further information on the Government’s project assurance process and business case development guidance please see here: The Green Book and accompanying guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential suitability of the private sector for delivering services under a Modern Slavery Victim Care contract.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government has robust internal assurance processes in place to manage and assure projects and programmes. The programme to procure a replacement for the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (Support for Victims of Modern Slavery (SVMS)) is following these assurance processes, which includes approval from and discussion with key Government Departments. The SVMS programme has also spoken to Cabinet Office throughout the preparations for going to market and as part of the approval processes.
The Home Office has undertaken a thorough market health assessment and conducted extensive supplier engagement for the SVMS programme, comprising a mix of Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and private sector organisations. The Home Office’s approach is to keep the opportunity open to different types of organisations – including charities and private sector - to ensure the Government harnesses the full range of capabilities across the supply chain delivering the best outcomes for victims of modern slavery. By adopting this approach, the SVMS programme will ensure it secures sustainable and resilient solutions that deliver economic and social value for UK taxpayers.
For further information on the Government’s project assurance process and business case development guidance please see here: The Green Book and accompanying guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to directly incorporate the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings into domestic law.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The UK Government’s response to modern slavery and human trafficking is compliant with both domestic and international obligations, including those set out in the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (ECAT).
This response includes the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC) which identify and support victims respectively.
This Government is committed to tackling modern slavery and human trafficking, in line with our international and domestic legal obligations. I will update on future policies in due course and am committed to taking an approach that puts victims first.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure that survivors of modern slavery feel safe to report exploitation and abuse regardless of their immigration status.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government is committed to tackling all forms of modern slavery; ensuring that victims, regardless of their nationality and immigration status, 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, of all nationalities, and ensuring they receive the appropriate support. If a First Responder thinks that modern slavery has taken place, the individual should be referred to the NRM so that the relevant competent authority can fully consider the case in line with the published Statutory Guidance. If an adult potential victim does not consent to entering the NRM, the first responder must notify the Home Office (in England and Wales) via a Duty to Notify (DtN) report.
The statistics for the NRM are published quarterly here: National Referral Mechanism statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to create a specific civil remedy of modern slavery.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Modern slavery is a horrific crime that devastates lives, leaving victims traumatised with long-lasting effects.
There are various routes victims of modern slavery can take to seek compensation for the abuse they have suffered. This includes making a civil claim through the courts, an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and / or a claim to the Employment Tribunal for unlawful treatment at work. Information about compensation available to victims of modern slavery can be found at: Compensation for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Government is committed to improving our response to modern slavery and will set out next steps more broadly in due course.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will hold discussions with HSBC on steps to help people with British National (Overseas) visas access HSBC pensions managed in Hong Kong.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
This Government is deeply committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK.
We are aware that individuals who have chosen to take up the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa route are having difficulties in drawing down early their pensions held in the Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF).
Whilst documentary requirements for withdrawing funds early are a matter for the Hong Kong authorities, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has raised this issue directly with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong MPF Schemes Authority. They have urged them to facilitate early draw down of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently and have made clear that any discrimination against BN(O)s is unacceptable.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to support people from Hong Kong with British National (Overseas) visas access pensions managed in Hong Kong.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
This Government is deeply committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK.
We are aware that individuals who have chosen to take up the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa route are having difficulties in drawing down early their pensions held in the Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF).
Whilst documentary requirements for withdrawing funds early are a matter for the Hong Kong authorities, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has raised this issue directly with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong MPF Schemes Authority. They have urged them to facilitate early draw down of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently and have made clear that any discrimination against BN(O)s is unacceptable.