Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the answer given to written question UIN 27191 of 9 September 2026 about modern slavery victims on skilled worker visas (a) how many employers' sponsor licences have been revoked on the grounds of exploitation of their workers and (b) how many of these revocations have been the subject of criminal investigation.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We do not hold this data in full, and it could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
However, we share data with Competent Bodies and have a consistent flow of information, continuingly assessing sectoral behaviour and trends of exploitation across the entire labour market. Whilst there are other sectors where conclusive grounds are determined following referral to the National Mechanism, for Skilled Worker these are disproportionately linked to the care sector.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules made on 3 September 2026 (HCWS311) (a) what data she holds and (b) what assessment she has made of the sectors other than the adult social care sector in which workers on skilled worker visas are being exploited.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We do not hold this data in full, and it could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
However, we share data with Competent Bodies and have a consistent flow of information, continuingly assessing sectoral behaviour and trends of exploitation across the entire labour market. Whilst there are other sectors where conclusive grounds are determined following referral to the National Mechanism, for Skilled Worker these are disproportionately linked to the care sector.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules made on 3 September 2026 (HCWS311) what plans she has to make further changes to sponsorship rules to prevent exploitation by enabling workers to escape poor treatment more easily before it escalates to the point of modern slavery.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
As outlined in the White Paper - Restoring Control Over the Immigration System published 12 May 2025, we are exploring making it easier for workers to move between sponsors for the duration of their visa. That is ongoing but our recent change to the Immigration Rules represents a first step towards achieving that aim.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the recommendations of the Thirty-Seventh Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2024-25 on Immigration: Skilled worker visas, HC 819, what arrangements are in place to safeguard international social care workers when sponsors’ licences are revoked beyond regional partnerships funded by the Department for Health and Social Care; and whether she is taking steps to strengthen those arrangements.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The standard cancellation activity for care workers impacted by revocation of the sponsor’s licence has been temporarily paused to enable the workers to find alternative employment. When an Adult Social Care sponsor is revoked, UKVI write to all the impacted workers individually to signpost them to direct support provided by the relevant regional partnerships when in England and to a specified mailbox in Scotland.
In addition to this, UKVI have agreed a process with the Regional Partnerships to expedite the associated applications for displaced workers, waiving the usual premium service fees that would be associated with either sponsor licence applications, certificate of sponsorship applications and visa applications.
The Regional Partnerships have a nominated official within UKVI who they are able to contact directly to seek support relating to care workers impacted by a revocation.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the recommendations of the Thirty-Seventh Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2024-25 on Immigration: Skilled worker visas, HC 819, and the white paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, CP 1326, what steps her Department is taking to facilitate migrant care workers to move to new sponsors.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The standard cancellation activity for care workers impacted by revocation of the sponsor’s licence has been temporarily paused to enable the workers to find alternative employment. When an Adult Social Care sponsor is revoked, UKVI write to all the impacted workers individually to signpost them to direct support provided by the relevant regional partnerships when in England and to a specified mailbox in Scotland.
In addition to this, UKVI have agreed a process with the Regional Partnerships to expedite the associated applications for displaced workers, waiving the usual premium service fees that would be associated with either sponsor licence applications, certificate of sponsorship applications and visa applications.
The Regional Partnerships have a nominated official within UKVI who they are able to contact directly to seek support relating to care workers impacted by a revocation.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the exploitation of people working illegally.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
As already announced, through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, the Government is introducing tough new laws to clamp down on illegal working.
We have expanded our work across government and with law enforcement partners to target, investigate and enforce penalties on unscrupulous employers who illegally employ those with no right to work here.
We are stopping exploitation by criminal gangs, ensuring vulnerable people receive the correct support and making sure that those who break the law face serious consequences.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many victims of modern slavery were granted temporary leave to remain under section 65 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 for (a) assisting a person in their recovery from any physical or psychological harm arising from the relevant exploitation, (b) enabling a person to seek compensation in respect of the relevant exploitation and (c) enabling a person to co-operate with a public authority in connection with an investigation or criminal proceedings in respect of the relevant exploitation in (i) 2023 and (ii) 2024.
Answered by Seema Malhotra
The requested data is not currently available in a verified and published form. Other data on modern slavery can be found at National Referral Mechanism statistics - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) positive reasonable grounds decisions and (b) conclusive grounds decisions which have been made under the National Referral Mechanism between 2020 and 2024.
Answered by Jess Phillips
From January 2020 to September 2024, there were 70,790 referrals into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). These have seen a continued increase.
In the same period, there were 51,850 positive reasonable grounds decisions made, and 34,254 conclusive grounds decisions made. Of which 24,233 were positive and 10,021 were negative. These statistics may change as new information becomes available, or if decisions are reconsidered.
With regards to the impact of recent legislation, the Illegal Migration Act 2023 has not been commenced in full, and the Government has made clear that the migration partnership with Rwanda will end. Any legislative plans resulting from this decision will be set out in due course.
This Government has been clear that identifying and supporting victims effectively is a key priority - that is why we have invested in 200 new decision makers to clear the backlog of cases and reduce wait times for victims.
The Home Office publishes modern slavery statistics on a quarterly basis and holds all policies and procedures under review to ensure they are effective in delivering the aims of the Government. As part of our New Plan for Immigration, we will take forward an evaluation workstream to understand the impact being achieved.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of (a) the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and (b) the Illegal Migration Act 2023 on decisions made under the National Referral Mechanism.
Answered by Jess Phillips
From January 2020 to September 2024, there were 70,790 referrals into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). These have seen a continued increase.
In the same period, there were 51,850 positive reasonable grounds decisions made, and 34,254 conclusive grounds decisions made. Of which 24,233 were positive and 10,021 were negative. These statistics may change as new information becomes available, or if decisions are reconsidered.
With regards to the impact of recent legislation, the Illegal Migration Act 2023 has not been commenced in full, and the Government has made clear that the migration partnership with Rwanda will end. Any legislative plans resulting from this decision will be set out in due course.
This Government has been clear that identifying and supporting victims effectively is a key priority - that is why we have invested in 200 new decision makers to clear the backlog of cases and reduce wait times for victims.
The Home Office publishes modern slavery statistics on a quarterly basis and holds all policies and procedures under review to ensure they are effective in delivering the aims of the Government. As part of our New Plan for Immigration, we will take forward an evaluation workstream to understand the impact being achieved.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of negative conclusive grounds decisions under the National Referral Mechanism on vulnerable individuals.
Answered by Jess Phillips
From January 2020 to September 2024, there were 70,790 referrals into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). These have seen a continued increase.
In the same period, there were 51,850 positive reasonable grounds decisions made, and 34,254 conclusive grounds decisions made. Of which 24,233 were positive and 10,021 were negative. These statistics may change as new information becomes available, or if decisions are reconsidered.
With regards to the impact of recent legislation, the Illegal Migration Act 2023 has not been commenced in full, and the Government has made clear that the migration partnership with Rwanda will end. Any legislative plans resulting from this decision will be set out in due course.
This Government has been clear that identifying and supporting victims effectively is a key priority – that is why we have invested in 200 new decision makers to clear the backlog of cases and reduce wait times for victims.
The Home Office publishes modern slavery statistics on a quarterly basis and holds all policies and procedures under review to ensure they are effective in delivering the aims of the Government. As part of our New Plan for Immigration, we will take forward an evaluation workstream to understand the impact being achieved.