Lord McColl of Dulwich Portrait

Lord McColl of Dulwich

Conservative - Life peer

Became Member: 25th July 1989


Long-Term Sustainability of the NHS Committee
25th May 2016 - 5th Apr 2017
Equality Act 2010 and Disability Committee
11th Jun 2015 - 15th Mar 2016
Draft Modern Slavery Bill
15th Jan 2014 - 3rd Apr 2014
HIV and AIDS Committee in the United Kingdom
20th Dec 2010 - 19th Jul 2011
Committee on the Assisted Dying for the terminally ill Bill
30th Nov 2004 - 7th Apr 2005
Science and Technology: Sub-Committee I
12th Dec 2000 - 18th Nov 2004
Science and Technology Committee (Lords)
6th Dec 1999 - 20th Nov 2003
Science and Technology: Sub-Committee I
23rd Nov 1993 - 3rd Nov 1994


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Lord McColl of Dulwich has voted in 350 divisions, and 10 times against the majority of their Party.

17 Mar 2021 - Domestic Abuse Bill - View Vote Context
Lord McColl of Dulwich voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Conservative Aye votes vs 207 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 125 Noes - 242
9 Nov 2020 - United Kingdom Internal Market Bill - View Vote Context
Lord McColl of Dulwich voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 44 Conservative No votes vs 147 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 165 Noes - 433
6 Oct 2020 - Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord McColl of Dulwich voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 6 Conservative Aye votes vs 196 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 312 Noes - 211
15 Jun 2020 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 - View Vote Context
Lord McColl of Dulwich voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 43 Conservative Aye votes vs 125 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 112 Noes - 388
15 Jun 2020 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 - View Vote Context
Lord McColl of Dulwich voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 24 Conservative No votes vs 127 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 355 Noes - 77
28 Apr 2021 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 - View Vote Context
Lord McColl of Dulwich voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 36 Conservative Aye votes vs 156 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 93 Noes - 418
28 Apr 2021 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 - View Vote Context
Lord McColl of Dulwich voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 34 Conservative Aye votes vs 144 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 70 Noes - 409
8 Mar 2022 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
Lord McColl of Dulwich voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 2 Conservative Aye votes vs 124 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 210 Noes - 128
8 Mar 2022 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
Lord McColl of Dulwich voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 5 Conservative Aye votes vs 119 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 207 Noes - 123
4 Apr 2022 - Nationality and Borders Bill - View Vote Context
Lord McColl of Dulwich voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 3 Conservative Aye votes vs 102 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 108 Noes - 107
View All Lord McColl of Dulwich Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lord Bethell (Conservative)
(31 debate interactions)
Lord Markham (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
(18 debate interactions)
Baroness Barran (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
(15 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department of Health and Social Care
(49 debate contributions)
Home Office
(34 debate contributions)
Scotland Office
(12 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Lord McColl of Dulwich's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord McColl of Dulwich, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


8 Bills introduced by Lord McColl of Dulwich


A Bill to prohibit the advertising of prostitution; and for connected purposes.

Lords - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading (Minute): House Of Lords
Friday 23rd October 2015

To make provision about human trafficking offences, measures to prevent and combat human trafficking and the provision of support for victims of human trafficking.

Lords - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading: House Of Lords
Friday 25th November 2011

A Bill to make provision about supporting victims of modern slavery

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 29th November 2021
(Read Debate)

A bill to make provision about supporting victims of modern slavery

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 13th January 2020
(Read Debate)

A Bill to improve support for people exiting prostitution; and for connected purposes.

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading : House Of Lords
Tuesday 14th June 2016

First reading took place on 22 May. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled. A bill to make provision for the use of electric personal vehicles on highways.

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Lords
Tuesday 22nd May 2012

A bill to make provision about human trafficking offences and exploitation, and about measures to prevent and combat human trafficking and provision of support for victims.

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Lords
Tuesday 15th May 2012

A Bill to make provision for the use of electric personal vehicles on highways.

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Lords
Wednesday 9th February 2011

Lord McColl of Dulwich has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
19th Apr 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people have been (1) prosecuted, and (2) convicted, for offences of people smuggling under the Immigration Act 1971, for each of the past five years.

The Immigration Act 1971 contains offences (including those created by the Nationality and Borders Act 2022) for assisting and facilitating unlawful immigration into the United Kingdom.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not hold any data which shows the number of defendants in England and Wales charged with, prosecuted and convicted for people smuggling offences created by the Immigration Act 1971.

However, management information for England and Wales is held showing the number of offences charged by way of S25 (Assisting unlawful immigration to member State or the United Kingdom), S25A (Helping an asylum-seeker to enter United Kingdom) and S25B (Assisting entry to United Kingdom in breach of deportation or exclusion order) of the Immigration Act 1971 in which a prosecution commenced in each of the last five years. The table below shows the number of these offences to the latest available year, 2022, in England and Wales.

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Immigration Act 1971 {25}

309

291

139

249

155

Immigration Act 1971 {25A}

8

5

2

134

6

Immigration Act 1971 {25B}

1

0

0

5

0

Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System

The figures relate to the number of offences and not the number of individual defendants. It can be the case that an individual defendant is charged with more than one offence against the same complainant. No data is held showing the final outcome or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at finalisation.

Lord Stewart of Dirleton
Advocate General for Scotland
19th Apr 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, how many people have been (1) prosecuted, and (2) convicted, for offences of human trafficking in the Modern Slavery Act 2015, for each of the past five years.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) holds no data showing the number of convictions for human trafficking offences in England and Wales under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

However, data is held showing the number of defendants prosecuted and convicted where the human trafficking monitoring flag has been applied to case records. The table below shows the number of prosecutions and convictions for defendants during each of the last five years in England and Wales.

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Prosecuted

294

349

267

466

405

Convicted

191

251

197

332

282

Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System

Lord Stewart of Dirleton
Advocate General for Scotland
25th Feb 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what mechanisms are in place to monitor the number of children identified as potential victims of human trafficking who go missing from local authority care.

Information on the number of looked after children who have been identified as potential victims of human trafficking and who go missing from care is not held centrally.

The latest figures on looked after children who go missing in England as at 31 March are published in Table G1 of the statistical release ‘Children Looked after in England including adoptions: 2018 to 2019’, which is attached and is also available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2018-to-2019.

Slavery and trafficking of children is a very serious offence and the government is committed to protecting children from this harm. The response to trafficking should be primarily about protecting victims and bringing those who exploit them to justice.

Local authorities are responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in their area, including child victims of modern slavery. The department’s statutory guidance for local authorities on care of unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery is clear on authorities’ duties to work with local partners to protect child victims of modern slavery from further risk from their traffickers and preventing exploitation from taking place. In particular, there should be a clear understanding between the local authority and the police of their respective roles in planning for this protection and responding if a child victim of modern slavery goes missing.

Section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 makes provisions for Independent Child Trafficking Advocates, which have been renamed Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTGs). ICTGs are an independent source of advice for trafficked children; somebody who can speak up on their behalf and act in the best interests of the child. Currently, ICTGs have been rolled out to one third of local authorities in England and Wales and the government remains committed to a national rollout.

25th Feb 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children identified as potential victims of human trafficking have gone missing from local authority care in each financial year from 2009–10 to 2018–19.

Information on the number of looked after children who have been identified as potential victims of human trafficking and who go missing from care is not held centrally.

The latest figures on looked after children who go missing in England as at 31 March are published in Table G1 of the statistical release ‘Children Looked after in England including adoptions: 2018 to 2019’, which is attached and is also available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2018-to-2019.

Slavery and trafficking of children is a very serious offence and the government is committed to protecting children from this harm. The response to trafficking should be primarily about protecting victims and bringing those who exploit them to justice.

Local authorities are responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in their area, including child victims of modern slavery. The department’s statutory guidance for local authorities on care of unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery is clear on authorities’ duties to work with local partners to protect child victims of modern slavery from further risk from their traffickers and preventing exploitation from taking place. In particular, there should be a clear understanding between the local authority and the police of their respective roles in planning for this protection and responding if a child victim of modern slavery goes missing.

Section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 makes provisions for Independent Child Trafficking Advocates, which have been renamed Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTGs). ICTGs are an independent source of advice for trafficked children; somebody who can speak up on their behalf and act in the best interests of the child. Currently, ICTGs have been rolled out to one third of local authorities in England and Wales and the government remains committed to a national rollout.

21st Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have set a target for the time between a local authority agreeing that noise from residential premises constitutes a statutory nuisance and the cessation of such noise.

Defra is responsible for the domestic legislation covering statutory nuisances, although local authority environmental health departments are the main enforcers of the statutory noise regime under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990.

Sources of noise nuisance are highly individual, and while some can be dealt with swiftly and straightforwardly, others will require works to be carried out or other steps to be taken which may be more complex and time consuming. As such, the Government considers that decisions around the timeframe for complying with a noise abatement order must be a matter for local authorities to decide within individual situations.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
23rd Mar 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to adopt the definition of "wholegrain" developed by the Whole Grain Initiative.

There are no immediate plans to adopt a definition of wholegrain into law. Work to consider a definition for wholegrain has been added as part of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) future work programme. Existing food labelling legislation ensures that the labelling and marketing of food does not mislead consumers.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
18th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is any scientific evidence that proves that filters in planes and air conditioning units prevent COVID-19 particles from passing through.

Onboard commercial aircraft, cabin air is pre-filtered through High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters before being mixed with fresh air from outside the aircraft and returned back to the cabin. Airbus claim that “The result is that the mix of fresh and pre-filtered recirculated air supplied by the Environment Control System to passengers in Airbus cabins is very clean and virus-free."

Research published by NASA has looked at the efficiency of HEPA filters, such as those present on Airbus and Boeing aircraft. This research supports Airbus’ claim, showing that HEPA filters have capture efficiencies >99.9% for particles of a similar size to that of the COVID-19 virus.

We are planning new research which aims to understand the effect air re-circulation systems have on the transmission of COVID-19 aboard passenger aircraft.

It is important to note that filters within standard air conditioning units may not be HEPA filters and therefore many not offer the same level of protection, and that air filtration alone will not stop all possible routes of COVID-19 transmission.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
4th Sep 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 17 February (HL5559), whether individuals who do not have (1) a BMI of less than 18.5 kilograms/m2, (2) unintentional weight loss greater than 10 per cent within the last three to six months, or (3) a BMI of less than 20 kilograms/m2 and unintentional weight loss greater than five per cent within the last three to six months, are therefore not defined as malnourished or undernourished; and whether there are any other scientific measurements or criteria that would justify obese individuals not being defined as malnourished or undernourished.

There is no agreed scientific nor universal definition of overnutrition, however the National Health Service refers to overnutrition as getting more nutrients than needed. Excess intake of macronutrients will mean an excess intake of energy, leading to weight gain and obesity. Excess intake of individual micronutrients may be associated with specific adverse health outcomes depending on the vitamin or mineral. Population prevalence of obesity is monitored by the Health Survey for England and data on population average energy and nutrient intakes are collected by the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. However, at an individual level, healthcare professionals may assess and monitor a patient’s weight and/or nutritional status depending on clinical need.

Although there is no formal assessment of malnutrition at a population-level, NHS Digital collects data on finished hospital admission episodes of malnutrition in England, based on International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) codes. The cause of malnutrition is not presented in the Hospital Episode Statistics.

The criteria referred to are from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines CG32 ‘Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition’ and are recommended as indications for when nutrition support should be considered. This NICE guideline also states that nutrition support should be considered in people at risk of malnutrition, defined as those who have eaten little or nothing for more than 5 days and/or are likely to eat little or nothing for 5 days or longer; a poor absorptive capacity and/or high nutrient losses; and/or increased nutritional needs from causes such as catabolism. Healthcare professionals might use other screening or assessment tools, or their own clinical judgement regarding additional signs and symptoms, to assess whether someone is at risk of malnutrition.

In the NICE guideline CG32, the term malnutrition is not used to cover excess nutrient provision (overnutrition). However, someone can be a healthy weight or have a body mass index in the overweight or obese categories but be identified through the NICE definition as potentially requiring nutrition support. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are also reported for scurvy and rickets, conditions which result from nutrient deficiencies, but these are reported separately to the HES for malnutrition.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
4th Sep 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 17 February (HL5559), how many people in England are deemed to be malnourished; and what proportion of those are caused by (1) undernutrition, and (2) overnutrition.

There is no agreed scientific nor universal definition of overnutrition, however the National Health Service refers to overnutrition as getting more nutrients than needed. Excess intake of macronutrients will mean an excess intake of energy, leading to weight gain and obesity. Excess intake of individual micronutrients may be associated with specific adverse health outcomes depending on the vitamin or mineral. Population prevalence of obesity is monitored by the Health Survey for England and data on population average energy and nutrient intakes are collected by the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. However, at an individual level, healthcare professionals may assess and monitor a patient’s weight and/or nutritional status depending on clinical need.

Although there is no formal assessment of malnutrition at a population-level, NHS Digital collects data on finished hospital admission episodes of malnutrition in England, based on International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) codes. The cause of malnutrition is not presented in the Hospital Episode Statistics.

The criteria referred to are from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines CG32 ‘Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition’ and are recommended as indications for when nutrition support should be considered. This NICE guideline also states that nutrition support should be considered in people at risk of malnutrition, defined as those who have eaten little or nothing for more than 5 days and/or are likely to eat little or nothing for 5 days or longer; a poor absorptive capacity and/or high nutrient losses; and/or increased nutritional needs from causes such as catabolism. Healthcare professionals might use other screening or assessment tools, or their own clinical judgement regarding additional signs and symptoms, to assess whether someone is at risk of malnutrition.

In the NICE guideline CG32, the term malnutrition is not used to cover excess nutrient provision (overnutrition). However, someone can be a healthy weight or have a body mass index in the overweight or obese categories but be identified through the NICE definition as potentially requiring nutrition support. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are also reported for scurvy and rickets, conditions which result from nutrient deficiencies, but these are reported separately to the HES for malnutrition.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
4th Sep 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 17 February (HL5559), what is the scientific definition of overnutrition; and how this is measured and monitored in obese individuals.

There is no agreed scientific nor universal definition of overnutrition, however the National Health Service refers to overnutrition as getting more nutrients than needed. Excess intake of macronutrients will mean an excess intake of energy, leading to weight gain and obesity. Excess intake of individual micronutrients may be associated with specific adverse health outcomes depending on the vitamin or mineral. Population prevalence of obesity is monitored by the Health Survey for England and data on population average energy and nutrient intakes are collected by the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. However, at an individual level, healthcare professionals may assess and monitor a patient’s weight and/or nutritional status depending on clinical need.

Although there is no formal assessment of malnutrition at a population-level, NHS Digital collects data on finished hospital admission episodes of malnutrition in England, based on International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) codes. The cause of malnutrition is not presented in the Hospital Episode Statistics.

The criteria referred to are from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines CG32 ‘Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition’ and are recommended as indications for when nutrition support should be considered. This NICE guideline also states that nutrition support should be considered in people at risk of malnutrition, defined as those who have eaten little or nothing for more than 5 days and/or are likely to eat little or nothing for 5 days or longer; a poor absorptive capacity and/or high nutrient losses; and/or increased nutritional needs from causes such as catabolism. Healthcare professionals might use other screening or assessment tools, or their own clinical judgement regarding additional signs and symptoms, to assess whether someone is at risk of malnutrition.

In the NICE guideline CG32, the term malnutrition is not used to cover excess nutrient provision (overnutrition). However, someone can be a healthy weight or have a body mass index in the overweight or obese categories but be identified through the NICE definition as potentially requiring nutrition support. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are also reported for scurvy and rickets, conditions which result from nutrient deficiencies, but these are reported separately to the HES for malnutrition.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
6th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve glaucoma care in independent sector treatment centres.

The Government recognises that innovation is crucial to drive improvements in clinical care and improved outcomes for people living with sight-threatening conditions. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services to meet local needs. In making commissioning decisions, we would expect ICBs to take into account the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on the diagnosis and management of glaucoma which NICE keeps under review, to ensure that it reflects developments in medical technology and clinical practice.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England, and this includes independent sector providers. CQC monitors, inspects and regulates services and publish what it finds. Where CQC finds poor care, it can use its enforcement powers to take action. This sits alongside guidance issued by NICE for the treatment of glaucoma and any professional standards issued by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, which we would expect National Health Service commissioners to have regard to when commissioning services from the independent sector.

NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time Programme is also working with providers across the country to reduce unwarranted variation in care across a range of eyecare subspecialties, including glaucoma.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
6th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure equity in the provision of glaucoma care (1) across the country, and (2) in different health settings.

The Government recognises that innovation is crucial to drive improvements in clinical care and improved outcomes for people living with sight-threatening conditions. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services to meet local needs. In making commissioning decisions, we would expect ICBs to take into account the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on the diagnosis and management of glaucoma which NICE keeps under review, to ensure that it reflects developments in medical technology and clinical practice.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England, and this includes independent sector providers. CQC monitors, inspects and regulates services and publish what it finds. Where CQC finds poor care, it can use its enforcement powers to take action. This sits alongside guidance issued by NICE for the treatment of glaucoma and any professional standards issued by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, which we would expect National Health Service commissioners to have regard to when commissioning services from the independent sector.

NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time Programme is also working with providers across the country to reduce unwarranted variation in care across a range of eyecare subspecialties, including glaucoma.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
29th Mar 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to collect data on the causes of obesity; and if so, when this will start.

Obesity is a complex problem, and the causes are multi-factorial, including biological; physiological; psycho-social; behavioural; and environmental factors. There are no plans to collect data on the causes of obesity and no specific assessment has been made on the causes of obesity.

Government advice on a healthy, balanced diet is encapsulated in the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide. The Eatwell Guide shows the proportions in which different types of foods should be consumed to have a healthy balanced diet, including average calorie intakes for men and women. The Eatwell Guide principles are communicated through a variety of channels, including the National Health Service website, Government social marketing campaigns, and guidance on healthier catering. For example, the Better Health campaign encourages adults to introduce changes that will help them work towards a healthier weight, including guidance on healthier food choices, calorie intake and portion control.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
29th Mar 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to promote personal calorie control as one of the main mechanisms for preventing obesity.

Obesity is a complex problem, and the causes are multi-factorial, including biological; physiological; psycho-social; behavioural; and environmental factors. There are no plans to collect data on the causes of obesity and no specific assessment has been made on the causes of obesity.

Government advice on a healthy, balanced diet is encapsulated in the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide. The Eatwell Guide shows the proportions in which different types of foods should be consumed to have a healthy balanced diet, including average calorie intakes for men and women. The Eatwell Guide principles are communicated through a variety of channels, including the National Health Service website, Government social marketing campaigns, and guidance on healthier catering. For example, the Better Health campaign encourages adults to introduce changes that will help them work towards a healthier weight, including guidance on healthier food choices, calorie intake and portion control.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
29th Mar 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the causes of obesity; in particular, (1) food addiction, (2) genetics, and (3) other factors.

Obesity is a complex problem, and the causes are multi-factorial, including biological; physiological; psycho-social; behavioural; and environmental factors. There are no plans to collect data on the causes of obesity and no specific assessment has been made on the causes of obesity.

Government advice on a healthy, balanced diet is encapsulated in the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide. The Eatwell Guide shows the proportions in which different types of foods should be consumed to have a healthy balanced diet, including average calorie intakes for men and women. The Eatwell Guide principles are communicated through a variety of channels, including the National Health Service website, Government social marketing campaigns, and guidance on healthier catering. For example, the Better Health campaign encourages adults to introduce changes that will help them work towards a healthier weight, including guidance on healthier food choices, calorie intake and portion control.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Feb 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to introduce an agreed definition of wholegrain, and (2) to set a recommended daily amount for its consumption.

Currently in the United Kingdom, there is no agreed definition for wholegrain or wholegrain foods. Therefore, wholegrain consumption cannot be monitored in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. At its horizon scan meeting in June 2022 the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) agreed that it would be useful to consider a definition for wholegrain and added it to its future work programme due to start Summer 2023.

SACN’s Carbohydrates and Health report published in 2015 provides strong evidence on dietary fibre and positive health outcomes, but for wholegrains and health outcomes the evidence was mixed and SACN has questioned whether any beneficial effect from wholegrain may be due to the fibre content. Fibre is found in a range of foods and is not exclusive to wholegrain foods. Based on SACN’s findings, Government recommends that adults consume 30 grams of dietary fibre each day and that this should be achieved through a variety of food sources.

Government dietary advice, as depicted by the UK’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide, is that we should choose wholegrain or higher fibre versions of starchy carbohydrates wherever possible. This advice aims to increase population intakes of fibre. This is because in the UK, there is no quantitative recommendation for dietary wholegrain consumption, whereas there is a specific Government recommendation for dietary fibre consumption. The Government continues to promote the Eatwell Guide principles through a variety of channels, including the NHS.UK website and our social marketing campaigns, Better Health and Healthier Families.

There are no current plans to introduce a public and private sector partnership aimed at increasing the consumption of wholegrain foods.

Authorised nutrition and health claims related to fibre can be used by food business operators on food products, pursuant to retained Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, as amended by the Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and the Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.

All authorised and rejected nutrition and health claims are included in the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register (GB NHC Register), other than those health claims authorised on the basis of proprietary data which will be recorded in a separate Annex to the GB NHC Register. The GB NHC Register, and the separate Annex, are available in an online only format.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Feb 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to merits of introducing a public and private sector partnership aiming to increase the consumption of wholegrain foods.

Currently in the United Kingdom, there is no agreed definition for wholegrain or wholegrain foods. Therefore, wholegrain consumption cannot be monitored in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. At its horizon scan meeting in June 2022 the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) agreed that it would be useful to consider a definition for wholegrain and added it to its future work programme due to start Summer 2023.

SACN’s Carbohydrates and Health report published in 2015 provides strong evidence on dietary fibre and positive health outcomes, but for wholegrains and health outcomes the evidence was mixed and SACN has questioned whether any beneficial effect from wholegrain may be due to the fibre content. Fibre is found in a range of foods and is not exclusive to wholegrain foods. Based on SACN’s findings, Government recommends that adults consume 30 grams of dietary fibre each day and that this should be achieved through a variety of food sources.

Government dietary advice, as depicted by the UK’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide, is that we should choose wholegrain or higher fibre versions of starchy carbohydrates wherever possible. This advice aims to increase population intakes of fibre. This is because in the UK, there is no quantitative recommendation for dietary wholegrain consumption, whereas there is a specific Government recommendation for dietary fibre consumption. The Government continues to promote the Eatwell Guide principles through a variety of channels, including the NHS.UK website and our social marketing campaigns, Better Health and Healthier Families.

There are no current plans to introduce a public and private sector partnership aimed at increasing the consumption of wholegrain foods.

Authorised nutrition and health claims related to fibre can be used by food business operators on food products, pursuant to retained Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, as amended by the Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and the Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.

All authorised and rejected nutrition and health claims are included in the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register (GB NHC Register), other than those health claims authorised on the basis of proprietary data which will be recorded in a separate Annex to the GB NHC Register. The GB NHC Register, and the separate Annex, are available in an online only format.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Feb 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address low wholegrain intakes in England.

Currently in the United Kingdom, there is no agreed definition for wholegrain or wholegrain foods. Therefore, wholegrain consumption cannot be monitored in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. At its horizon scan meeting in June 2022 the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) agreed that it would be useful to consider a definition for wholegrain and added it to its future work programme due to start Summer 2023.

SACN’s Carbohydrates and Health report published in 2015 provides strong evidence on dietary fibre and positive health outcomes, but for wholegrains and health outcomes the evidence was mixed and SACN has questioned whether any beneficial effect from wholegrain may be due to the fibre content. Fibre is found in a range of foods and is not exclusive to wholegrain foods. Based on SACN’s findings, Government recommends that adults consume 30 grams of dietary fibre each day and that this should be achieved through a variety of food sources.

Government dietary advice, as depicted by the UK’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide, is that we should choose wholegrain or higher fibre versions of starchy carbohydrates wherever possible. This advice aims to increase population intakes of fibre. This is because in the UK, there is no quantitative recommendation for dietary wholegrain consumption, whereas there is a specific Government recommendation for dietary fibre consumption. The Government continues to promote the Eatwell Guide principles through a variety of channels, including the NHS.UK website and our social marketing campaigns, Better Health and Healthier Families.

There are no current plans to introduce a public and private sector partnership aimed at increasing the consumption of wholegrain foods.

Authorised nutrition and health claims related to fibre can be used by food business operators on food products, pursuant to retained Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, as amended by the Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and the Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.

All authorised and rejected nutrition and health claims are included in the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register (GB NHC Register), other than those health claims authorised on the basis of proprietary data which will be recorded in a separate Annex to the GB NHC Register. The GB NHC Register, and the separate Annex, are available in an online only format.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
8th Feb 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what data describes the differing causes of obesity (1) with and without malnutrition, and (2) in people of high and low economic placement.

Obesity is a complex problem caused by numerous factors, to which there is no single solution. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that body mass index (BMI) is used to assess obesity in adults and children. Additionally, it recommends the use of other validated obesity measures, such as waist circumference, to be undertaken alongside BMI for adults when assessing overweightness and obesity in individuals to give a more detailed assessment of an individual’s health risk.

Malnutrition as a broad term refers to deficiency, excess or imbalances of a person’s intake of calories, protein and other nutrients which causes measurable adverse effects on body composition, function or clinical outcome. The full definition of malnutrition therefore includes overnutrition which can lead to obesity, however, in the United Kingdom, the term is more commonly used to refer to a clinical condition involving undernutrition.

NICE advises that nutrition support should be considered in people who are malnourished, as defined by any of the following: a BMI of less than 18.5 kilograms/m2; unintentional weight loss greater than 10% within the last three to six months; or a BMI of less than 20 kilograms/m2 and unintentional weight loss greater than 5% within the last three to six months.

Someone can therefore be a healthy weight or have a BMI in the overweight or obese categories but be identified through the NICE definition as potentially requiring nutrition support. The term ‘malnutrition’ is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to a poor diet; although this may put someone at increased risk of malnutrition, this would not necessarily meet the criteria for malnutrition.

Data is not collected on causes of obesity. Data from the Health Survey for England, 2021 and National Child Measurement Programme show obesity prevalence was lowest for those living in the least deprived areas and highest in the most deprived areas.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
8th Feb 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the criteria that distinguish obese citizens in England who are described as malnourished from other obese citizens who are not so described.

Obesity is a complex problem caused by numerous factors, to which there is no single solution. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that body mass index (BMI) is used to assess obesity in adults and children. Additionally, it recommends the use of other validated obesity measures, such as waist circumference, to be undertaken alongside BMI for adults when assessing overweightness and obesity in individuals to give a more detailed assessment of an individual’s health risk.

Malnutrition as a broad term refers to deficiency, excess or imbalances of a person’s intake of calories, protein and other nutrients which causes measurable adverse effects on body composition, function or clinical outcome. The full definition of malnutrition therefore includes overnutrition which can lead to obesity, however, in the United Kingdom, the term is more commonly used to refer to a clinical condition involving undernutrition.

NICE advises that nutrition support should be considered in people who are malnourished, as defined by any of the following: a BMI of less than 18.5 kilograms/m2; unintentional weight loss greater than 10% within the last three to six months; or a BMI of less than 20 kilograms/m2 and unintentional weight loss greater than 5% within the last three to six months.

Someone can therefore be a healthy weight or have a BMI in the overweight or obese categories but be identified through the NICE definition as potentially requiring nutrition support. The term ‘malnutrition’ is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to a poor diet; although this may put someone at increased risk of malnutrition, this would not necessarily meet the criteria for malnutrition.

Data is not collected on causes of obesity. Data from the Health Survey for England, 2021 and National Child Measurement Programme show obesity prevalence was lowest for those living in the least deprived areas and highest in the most deprived areas.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
18th Nov 2022
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their general advice for (1) how much fat, and (2) what kind of fat, they recommend people eat; and what assessment they have made of the effect of exercise to weight reduction by comparison with reducing the number of calories in the diet.

Fats are an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet. The Government’s dietary recommendations state that no more than 33% of total energy should come from fats, including no more than approximately 10% of total energy from saturated fats. The advice for the general population is to reduce intakes of saturated fats and replace with more unsaturated fats from sources such as oily fish, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, nuts and seeds.

Daily physical activity can contribute to maintaining a healthy weight and the prevention and management of certain diseases. This approach should place an emphasis on changing dietary behaviour to reduce calorie intake and support people to self-monitor and manage everyday challenging situations.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
6th Jun 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to safeguard access to psychosocial professionals for (1) paediatric, and (2) adult, cystic fibrosis patients in the UK.

NHS England’s adult and paediatric cystic fibrosis service specifications set out national standards, including the importance of access to multidisciplinary teams involving appropriately trained clinical psychologists and social workers. There are regular review meetings between the regional commissioning teams and providers to ensure compliance with service standards across the range of services commissioned.

Health Education England has supported a 60% expansion in the clinical psychology training intake over the past two years. Trainees can undertake specialist placements and upon qualification take up posts across a wide range of settings, including working with adults and children with cystic fibrosis.

The Government committed at least £500 million to develop and support the adult social care workforce over the next three years. We are ensuring a sufficient supply of social workers through measures such as support and development for a post-graduate mental health social work programme, the Education Support Grant and Social Work Bursaries.

26th Apr 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with (1) the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and (2) the National Institute for Health and Care Research, about which lessons from the success of COVID-19 trials could be applied to improve the (a) approval, and (b) set-up process, for dementia trials.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
26th Apr 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of a Dementia Medicines Taskforce to advance towards a disease-modifying treatment for dementia.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

26th Apr 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are considering when revisiting the NHS Long Term Plan to address obesity in order (1) to improve cardiovascular health, and (2) to reduce dementia risk.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

21st Feb 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the increases in childhood obesity during the COVID-19 lockdown, as shown by the National Child Measurement Programmes data for 2020 to 2021, published on 20 January, what plans they have to revise the Department of Health and Social Care’s advice on combating childhood obesity.

We continue to monitor progress and emerging evidence and will keep the advice under review.

16th Dec 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that only two vaccination centres in England offer services to add overseas vaccines to the NHS COVID Pass.

The Department does not recognise the reported figures. Currently, 17 sites are capable of recording overseas vaccinations into the National Immunisation Management System. There is at least one site in each of the seven National Health Service regions in England.

The number of vaccination centres offering this service in England is currently limited due to the rapid expansion of the booster programme. The list of vaccination centres offering this service will be expanded in due course.

16th Dec 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many patients do not have access to a vaccination centre within 20 miles; and what assessment they have made of the impact of proximity to a vaccination centre on vaccine uptake.

99% of the population in England live within 10 miles of at least one COVID-19 vaccination site. UK-wide data is not held centrally.

The Department is continuously monitoring COVID-19 vaccine uptake and assessing ways to increase it further – with accessibility being a key driver. To support vaccine deployment and minimise inequalities in uptake, NHS England and NHS Improvement have developed practical guidance for communities to implement a range of interventions to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations.

To ensure that uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine is maximised, there are now more sites in England delivering COVID-19 vaccines than at any other point in the programme, with around 3000 in total. This includes delivery though hospital hubs, vaccination centres, mobile/pop-up facilities, Primary Care Network-led sites, and community pharmacy-led sites. The network of vaccination sites has been designed to deliver the expected vaccine supply as quickly as possible and ensure safe and easy access for the whole population. For those in highly rural areas, where a vaccination site may be more difficult to reach there is a standard operating procedure for roving and other mobile delivery models to go directly to these communities.

18th Nov 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the NHS app will include information about booster vaccinations for COVID-19.

The NHS COVID Pass can now be used to demonstrate proof of a booster or third dose for outbound international travel and this record is available through the NHS App and NHS.UK. Booster vaccinations are not required for domestic certification in England.

18th Nov 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the NHS app will include information about a British national’s COVID-19 vaccination status where the vaccinations were administered outside the UK.

We have provided a pilot service at selected vaccination centres for residents to request their overseas vaccines are uploaded to the national database. A national service will be launched in December which will support online bookings with further vaccination sites available. AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen vaccines in the United States of America, the European Union, the European Economic Area, Canada, Switzerland and Australia regulated by the European Medicines Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, Swissmedic and Therapeutic Goods Administration can generate an NHS COVID Pass. A range of vaccines are administered worldwide and we are working to understand which non-Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency-approved equivalent vaccines we would be confident to recognise in the NHS COVID Pass.

25th Oct 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average additional cost to the NHS of every patient moved from Tier 3 to Tier 4 Specialist Weight Management Services.

We are not able to estimate the average additional cost of moving all patients treated in Tier 3 services to management under Tier 4 from existing data. There are currently no national tariffs for Tier 3 specialist weight management services and national tariffs of bariatric surgery vary dependent on the type of procedure.

25th Oct 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many patients are waiting for bariatric surgery or similar interventions at Tier 4 Specialist Weight Management; and how long on average those patients are waiting for such surgery or similar interventions.

This data is not routinely collected centrally. NHS England and NHS Improvement are in the process of engaging with trusts to better understand the current position on waiting times. A planned National Obesity Audit will provide information on conversion rates from Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services to Tier 4 Specialist Weight Management Services.

25th Oct 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many patients requiring Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services went on to require Tier 4 Specialist Weight Management Services in the latest year for which data are available.

This data is not routinely collected centrally. NHS England and NHS Improvement are in the process of engaging with trusts to better understand the current position on waiting times. A planned National Obesity Audit will provide information on conversion rates from Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services to Tier 4 Specialist Weight Management Services.

25th Oct 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect that encouraging GPs to refer patients to medical weight loss clinics would have on levels of obesity.

No direct assessment has been made. However, evidence has shown that general practitioners (GP) referrals are effective at encouraging the uptake of weight management services and subsequently result in increased weight loss for those referred. This evidence has informed the decision to invest £20.4 million in the Weight Management Enhanced Service, which financially incentivises GPs to refer individuals to weight management services. We are committed to evaluating the impact of the 2021/22 Weight Management Enhanced Service.

18th Aug 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the needs and views of people with dementia are taken into account in any workforce plan that forms part of the forthcoming social care reform proposals.

We are working closely with local and national partners from across the sector, including those with dementia and lived experience of the social care system, to ensure that our approach to reform is informed by diverse perspectives.

Together with stakeholders we are considering how we build back fairer to deliver the sustainable improvements to adult social care that we all want to see. We will bring forward proposals for reform later in 2021, including for the social care workforce.

18th Aug 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to address the rehabilitative needs of people with dementia who have experienced a significant deterioration in their symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NHS Long Term Plan commits to the Enhanced Health in Care Homes service model that sets out best practice for dementia care including rehabilitation and reablement.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have also made guidance and resources available to address the rehabilitation needs of people living with dementia, including the ‘Dementia wellbeing in COVID-19’ resource.

In addition, we have commissioned research through the National Institute for Health Research on how to manage or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on people with dementia and their carers living in the community and concise helpful summary leaflets were produced.

We will be setting out our plans on dementia for England for future years in due course.

18th Aug 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the behavioural and psychological symptoms of people with dementia have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have collaborated with the South East Clinical Delivery and Networks to publish guidance for primary care networks and care homes on dementia and older people’s mental health, which includes ways to recognise and support people experiencing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. They have also made guidance and resources available to address the rehabilitation needs of people living with dementia, including the ‘Dementia wellbeing in COVID-19’ resource.

We have commissioned research through the National Institute for Health Research on how to manage or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on people with dementia and their carers living in the community and concise helpful summary leaflets were produced.

We will be setting out our plans on dementia for England for future years in due course.

18th Aug 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to ring fence funding, and (2) to prioritise rehabilitation, for hospital patients who are recovering critical illnesses.

The Government has provided a dedicated national discharge fund, managed by the National Health Service, for the first half of 2021/2022 financial year. In tandem with the existing services commissioned by local authorities and clinical commissioning groups, this discharge fund pays for the cost of post-discharge recovery and support services. This includes bed based and home-based rehabilitation and re-ablement care following discharge from hospital and is funded for up to four weeks.

26th Jan 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government when they started to draft the public statement about their overall objectives and approach to using UK aid to tackle modern slavery internationally, which they undertook to do in 2021 in their response to the Independent Commission for Aid Impact's review of the use of aid to tackle modern slavery, published on 14 October 2020; why the publication of this statement has been delayed; and when it will be published.

The Government remains committed to eradicating all forms of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking in line with achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 by 2030. The UK has supported over 120 modern slavery programmes internationally and here in the UK, since 2017 alone. Ministers are considering next steps on our strategic approach.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
12th Oct 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government when HMRC will start to collect VAT from Uber; and what assessment they have made of the amount of VAT to be collected.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not disclose details of the tax affairs of particular taxpayers.

14th Dec 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the past three years, how many victims of modern slavery have qualified for leave to remain to pursue a compensation claim or a criminal case against their traffickers.

We carefully reviewed the commitment made regarding the provision of 12 months’ support to modern slavery victims with a positive Conclusive Grounds decision and concluded that the Recovery Needs Assessment ensures that necessary support is available to victims with a positive Conclusive Grounds decision for the necessary length of time, including if this is 12 months, or longer. There is therefore no need to specify 12-month support for all individuals in guidance and no current plans to do so.

A total of 10,704 consenting adults in England and Wales received support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care contract during the year ending June 2023, the largest number support for any year since the contract began, and the Government remains committed to supporting victims based on need.

Through Section 65 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, the Government also set out, for the first time in primary legislation, that confirmed victims of modern slavery are eligible for temporary permission to stay in the UK. Depending on the individual circumstances, Temporary Permission to Stay can be granted for 12 months, or more, to confirmed victims of Modern Slavery. This delivers a fair and effective permission to stay process in relation to confirmed victims of modern slavery, allowing those who are cooperating with public authorities in the investigation and/or prosecution of their exploiters to stay in the UK for that purpose.

We do not publish the other data requested.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
14th Dec 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the past three years, how many victims of modern slavery have (1) received support following a recovery needs assessment, (2) received all the support they asked for, and (3) received support for 12 months or more.

We carefully reviewed the commitment made regarding the provision of 12 months’ support to modern slavery victims with a positive Conclusive Grounds decision and concluded that the Recovery Needs Assessment ensures that necessary support is available to victims with a positive Conclusive Grounds decision for the necessary length of time, including if this is 12 months, or longer. There is therefore no need to specify 12-month support for all individuals in guidance and no current plans to do so.

A total of 10,704 consenting adults in England and Wales received support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care contract during the year ending June 2023, the largest number support for any year since the contract began, and the Government remains committed to supporting victims based on need.

Through Section 65 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, the Government also set out, for the first time in primary legislation, that confirmed victims of modern slavery are eligible for temporary permission to stay in the UK. Depending on the individual circumstances, Temporary Permission to Stay can be granted for 12 months, or more, to confirmed victims of Modern Slavery. This delivers a fair and effective permission to stay process in relation to confirmed victims of modern slavery, allowing those who are cooperating with public authorities in the investigation and/or prosecution of their exploiters to stay in the UK for that purpose.

We do not publish the other data requested.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
14th Dec 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 6 February (HL4984), when they will publish the guidance on providing 12 months' support to modern slavery victims who hold a positive conclusive grounds decision.

We carefully reviewed the commitment made regarding the provision of 12 months’ support to modern slavery victims with a positive Conclusive Grounds decision and concluded that the Recovery Needs Assessment ensures that necessary support is available to victims with a positive Conclusive Grounds decision for the necessary length of time, including if this is 12 months, or longer. There is therefore no need to specify 12-month support for all individuals in guidance and no current plans to do so.

A total of 10,704 consenting adults in England and Wales received support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care contract during the year ending June 2023, the largest number support for any year since the contract began, and the Government remains committed to supporting victims based on need.

Through Section 65 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, the Government also set out, for the first time in primary legislation, that confirmed victims of modern slavery are eligible for temporary permission to stay in the UK. Depending on the individual circumstances, Temporary Permission to Stay can be granted for 12 months, or more, to confirmed victims of Modern Slavery. This delivers a fair and effective permission to stay process in relation to confirmed victims of modern slavery, allowing those who are cooperating with public authorities in the investigation and/or prosecution of their exploiters to stay in the UK for that purpose.

We do not publish the other data requested.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
23rd Nov 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many children and young people were supported by the Independent Child Trafficking Guardian service between January and September; and, of those, how many (1) were supported by a direct worker, and (2) were under the oversight of a Regional Practice Coordinator.

Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTGs) operate in two thirds of local authorities across England and Wales, in addition to the statutory support provided to children by local authorities.

ICTGs provide an additional source of advice and support for potentially trafficked children, irrespective of nationality, and somebody to advocate on their behalf to ensure their best interests are reflected in the decision-making of the public authorities involved in their care.

The ICTG service model provides one-to-one support for children with no parental responsibility for them in the UK via an ICTG Direct Worker and an expert ICTG Regional Practice Co-ordinator for children where there is someone with parental responsibility for them in the UK.

The data requested regarding ICTGs for the timeframe specified has not previously been published and has not yet been verified. We are therefore unable to release the information at this time.

Data tables published in November 2021 in the UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery: 2021 UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab) show the numbers of children referred to Direct Workers and Regional Practice Coordinators, broken down by region, in 2019 and 2020.

To date, two evaluations on the ICTG service have been published: An evaluation of Independent Child Trafficking Guardians - early adopter sites: Final report - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and An assessment of Independent Child Trafficking Guardians - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

There are currently no plans to publish the evaluation report of changes to the ICTG service from the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
23rd Nov 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many children and young people who were supported by the Independent Child Trafficking Guardian service between January and September had experienced (1) sexual exploitation, (2) criminal exploitation, (3) labour exploitation, and (4) domestic servitude.

Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTGs) operate in two thirds of local authorities across England and Wales, in addition to the statutory support provided to children by local authorities.

ICTGs provide an additional source of advice and support for potentially trafficked children, irrespective of nationality, and somebody to advocate on their behalf to ensure their best interests are reflected in the decision-making of the public authorities involved in their care.

The ICTG service model provides one-to-one support for children with no parental responsibility for them in the UK via an ICTG Direct Worker and an expert ICTG Regional Practice Co-ordinator for children where there is someone with parental responsibility for them in the UK.

The data requested regarding ICTGs for the timeframe specified has not previously been published and has not yet been verified. We are therefore unable to release the information at this time.

Data tables published in November 2021 in the UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery: 2021 UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab) show the numbers of children referred to Direct Workers and Regional Practice Coordinators, broken down by region, in 2019 and 2020.

To date, two evaluations on the ICTG service have been published: An evaluation of Independent Child Trafficking Guardians - early adopter sites: Final report - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and An assessment of Independent Child Trafficking Guardians - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

There are currently no plans to publish the evaluation report of changes to the ICTG service from the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
19th Oct 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding on 13 September (HC197778), how specifically the £37 million Modern Slavery Fund has been spent.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
10th May 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the National Referral Mechanism data for January to March 2023, what is the breakdown of positive reasonable grounds decisions for adults and children by (1) month, (2) the number of British nationals, and (3) the number of non-British nationals.

The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics regarding the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The Q1 2023 statistics can be found here;

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1154119/modern-slavery-national-referral-mechanism-statistics-uk-quarter-1-2023-january-to-march-tables.ods

The data shows the number of duty to notify notices (DTN) received from January to March 2023 and the number of reasonable grounds decisions made per quarter.

Further disaggregated data which shows nationality and whether the potential victim was an adult or child at the time of exploitation is published via the UK Data Service.

The DTN data related to April 2023 will be part of the Q2 statistics which is due to be published in August 2023.

10th May 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many duty-to-notify notices were received for potential victims of modern slavery between 7 March and 30 April this year compared to the same period in 2022.

The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics regarding the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The Q1 2023 statistics can be found here;

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1154119/modern-slavery-national-referral-mechanism-statistics-uk-quarter-1-2023-january-to-march-tables.ods

The data shows the number of duty to notify notices (DTN) received from January to March 2023 and the number of reasonable grounds decisions made per quarter.

Further disaggregated data which shows nationality and whether the potential victim was an adult or child at the time of exploitation is published via the UK Data Service.

The DTN data related to April 2023 will be part of the Q2 statistics which is due to be published in August 2023.