Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they ensure that UK support for Albanian victims of human trafficking reaches those who need it most.

The UK is working closely with the Albanian Government to better support Albanian victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, including the reintegration of returnees. For example, the UK and Albania are currently in the process of strengthening cooperation under the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding to enhance information-sharing.

Both the UK and Albania are signatories to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, which requires our governments to design comprehensive frameworks to protect and assist victims of trafficking. The UK and Albania have developed National Referral Mechanisms to fulfil this requirement. The decision-making processes through our respective National Referral Mechanisms are independent and we are not seeking harmonisation beyond the sharing of best practice and expertise.

We are not aware of reports that victims have returned to Albania and not been provided with support due to local authorities not recognising UK Conclusive Grounds decisions. Should we receive reports, we will discuss with Albanian counterparts.

The UK provides comprehensive support to potential victims of trafficking in the UK through the National Referral Mechanism regardless of their nationality. All victims who receive a positive reasonable grounds decision are entitled to a minimum 45 days Reflection and Recovery period, during which specialist support and advocacy are provided. This includes access to emergency medical treatment, translation and interpretation, information and signposting, counselling, assistance at appropriate stages of criminal proceedings against offenders, assistance with returning to their home country, and tailored exit plans to move on from their time in service. This assistance is designed to meet the unique needs of individual potential victims.