Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Minister of State (Minister for Immigration) at the Home Office on (1) 28 March (HC Deb col 961), and (2) 29 March (HC Deb col 308WH), what evidence they are using for the abuse of the modern slavery system.

On 7 March 2023 the Government published research and analysis on modern slavery referrals for people detained for return after arriving in the UK on small boats. That report can be found at: Modern slavery referrals for people detained for return after arriving in the UK on small boats - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Home Office reports also show that NRM referrals from detention and prison have increased. In 2020, 27% (1,005) of people detained within the UK following immigration offences were referred as potential victims of modern slavery.

Almost everyone referred from detention into the NRM was subsequently released from detention (99.5%, for detentions between Jan 2019 and Sep 2022).

The NRM referral rate for people arriving in the UK on small boats and being detained for return has risen from 6% (50) of detentions ending in 2019 to 73% (294) in 2021.

It is right that the Government has a proactive approach to addressing instances in which the system is not being used as intended.