Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Statement of 16 July 2025 on Call for Evidence – Identification of Victims of Modern Slavery, HCWS826, whether the call for evidence will consider the impact of the revised evidential requirements for reasonable grounds decisions on different groups and categories of potential modern slavery victims.

The Identification of Victims of Modern Slavery Call for Evidence launched on 16 July 2025. It invites views on an effective system where victims are recognised early and accurately so they can be protected and receive appropriate assistance and support towards their recovery from exploitation.

The Call for Evidence is structured around three themes:

1) Definitions of victims of modern slavery;

2) Initial identification of victims of modern slavery; and

3) Formal identification of victims of modern slavery.

The full list of questions in the Call for Evidence is available at Identification of victims of modern slavery - GOV.UK. The Call for Evidence includes questions on the National Referral Mechanism decision-making process, including Reasonable Grounds and Conclusive Grounds decisions.

The Call for Evidence will be open for a 12-week period, meaning submissions can be provided up until Wednesday 8 October 2025.

Insights gathered through the Call for Evidence and wider stakeholder engagement will inform longer-term policy development.