Asked by: Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Vietnamese children have gone missing from care shortly after referral to the National Referral Mechanism since the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Any child (including a trafficked child) who goes missing is a concern, particularly to those directly responsible for their care. The Government is fully committed to addressing this issue and the Home Office are actively working with partners to address the issue of all children who go missing from home and care through its updated Missing strategy, which will be published in the coming months.
We do not collate data on children who go missing through the National Referral Mechanism, such data is held at a local level. The National Crime Agency (NCA) regularly publishes National Referral Mechanism (NRM) data. Data Latest statistics on NRM referrals and decisions are available at the following link:
Further information is also available in the 2018 UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery which was published on 18 October 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2018-uk-annual-report-on-modern-slavery
Asked by: Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to a tourism and hospitality sectoral exemption in their proposals for intermediate and high-skilled migrants to earn a minimum salary of £30,000 per annum.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
As set out in the White Paper, ‘The UK’s future skills-based immigration system’, we propose to define high, medium and lower skilled occupation by referring to the national Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) levels.
Occupations falling into each of these skills will be set out in codes of practices.
In their report, EEA migration in the UK, the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended maintaining the existing £30,000 minimum salary threshold. We are launching an extensive year long programme of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders across the UK, including the private, public and voluntary sector, employers and businesses, as well as the EU and international partners. We are also launching a number of new advisory groups and expand on existing forums, consisting of business and employer representatives, to help inform the detailed design of the future immigration system.
Asked by: Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to adapt their post-Brexit immigration plans to ensure that skills relevant to the tourism industry are included within their definition of high and intermediate skilled workers.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
As set out in the White Paper, ‘The UK’s future skills-based immigration system’, we propose to define high, medium and lower skilled occupation by referring to the national Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) levels.
Occupations falling into each of these skills will be set out in codes of practices.
In their report, EEA migration in the UK, the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended maintaining the existing £30,000 minimum salary threshold. We are launching an extensive year long programme of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders across the UK, including the private, public and voluntary sector, employers and businesses, as well as the EU and international partners. We are also launching a number of new advisory groups and expand on existing forums, consisting of business and employer representatives, to help inform the detailed design of the future immigration system.
Asked by: Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what further plans they have to expand the availability of Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visas beyond their proposals to expand their availability to EU citizens.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We have proposed a UK-EU Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) as part of our Mobility Framework to ensure that young people can continue to enjoy the social, cultural and educational benefits of living in the EU and the UK.
We will ensure that our future immigration system continues to support the thriving cultural exchanges that the YMS cultivates.
Asked by: Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to increasing the period of validity for Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visas from two to four years, or for providing for the possibility of an extension.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Tier 5 Youth Mobility Schemes provide a cultural exchange programme that allows young people aged 18 to 30 from participating countries and territories to experience life in the UK for up to two years.
We are not proposing to increase the validity of Leave to Remain under the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme.
Asked by: Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prevalence of breast ironing in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Breast ironing is child abuse and it is illegal. The Government is committed to challenging the cultural attitudes that underpin so called ‘honour-based’ abuse (HBA), as set out in our cross-Government Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, published in 2016.
The Government is committed to ensuring that front-line practitioners who may encounter women and girls who are at risk of, or who have undergone, breast ironing, are aware of this issue and have the confidence to tackle it.
Border Force Officers at UK ports and airports are trained to look for those at risk of HBA and conduct regular joint operations (‘Operation Limelight’) with the police at airports across the country to raise awareness with poten-tial victims of HBA, including breast ironing. A specific briefing on breast ironing has also been shared with regional Border Force Safeguarding and Modern Slavery leads.
In addition, the following documents provide advice and support for profes-sionals in respect of safeguarding children from abuse, including HBA:
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (p.80-82): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2
• Working Together to Safeguard Children: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2
• CPS Legal Guidance on Honour-Based Violence and Forced Marriage: https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/honour-based-violence-and-forced-marriage
The police have a range of offences at their disposal to deal with any cases of breast ironing they encounter, including common assault, actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm. There are also specific offences of child cruelty and causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm, both of which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. As such, the Government does not have plans to introduce a stand-alone criminal offence.
No assessments have been made of the prevalence of breast ironing in the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation that will make the practice of breast ironing a stand-alone criminal offence; and if so, when they will introduce such legislation.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Breast ironing is child abuse and it is illegal. The Government is committed to challenging the cultural attitudes that underpin so called ‘honour-based’ abuse (HBA), as set out in our cross-Government Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, published in 2016.
The Government is committed to ensuring that front-line practitioners who may encounter women and girls who are at risk of, or who have undergone, breast ironing, are aware of this issue and have the confidence to tackle it.
Border Force Officers at UK ports and airports are trained to look for those at risk of HBA and conduct regular joint operations (‘Operation Limelight’) with the police at airports across the country to raise awareness with poten-tial victims of HBA, including breast ironing. A specific briefing on breast ironing has also been shared with regional Border Force Safeguarding and Modern Slavery leads.
In addition, the following documents provide advice and support for profes-sionals in respect of safeguarding children from abuse, including HBA:
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (p.80-82): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2
• Working Together to Safeguard Children: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2
• CPS Legal Guidance on Honour-Based Violence and Forced Marriage: https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/honour-based-violence-and-forced-marriage
The police have a range of offences at their disposal to deal with any cases of breast ironing they encounter, including common assault, actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm. There are also specific offences of child cruelty and causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm, both of which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. As such, the Government does not have plans to introduce a stand-alone criminal offence.
No assessments have been made of the prevalence of breast ironing in the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure police and frontline staff are (1) aware of, and (2) trained in dealing with the practice of breast ironing in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Breast ironing is child abuse and it is illegal. The Government is committed to challenging the cultural attitudes that underpin so called ‘honour-based’ abuse (HBA), as set out in our cross-Government Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, published in 2016.
The Government is committed to ensuring that front-line practitioners who may encounter women and girls who are at risk of, or who have undergone, breast ironing, are aware of this issue and have the confidence to tackle it.
Border Force Officers at UK ports and airports are trained to look for those at risk of HBA and conduct regular joint operations (‘Operation Limelight’) with the police at airports across the country to raise awareness with poten-tial victims of HBA, including breast ironing. A specific briefing on breast ironing has also been shared with regional Border Force Safeguarding and Modern Slavery leads.
In addition, the following documents provide advice and support for profes-sionals in respect of safeguarding children from abuse, including HBA:
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (p.80-82): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2
• Working Together to Safeguard Children: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2
• CPS Legal Guidance on Honour-Based Violence and Forced Marriage: https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/honour-based-violence-and-forced-marriage
The police have a range of offences at their disposal to deal with any cases of breast ironing they encounter, including common assault, actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm. There are also specific offences of child cruelty and causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm, both of which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. As such, the Government does not have plans to introduce a stand-alone criminal offence.
No assessments have been made of the prevalence of breast ironing in the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have assessed the possible impact on the independence of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner of the requirement that the Commissioner undertake annual performance appraisals with the Home Office Director of Tackling Slavery and Exploitation.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
It is usual for public appointees to take part in an appraisal or performance assessment process in line with the Cabinet Office Code for public appointments.
The requirement to do so does not compromise their ability to carry out their roles independently. We will consider the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act on the role of the independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) and will work with the new post holder to take forward relevant recommendations.
Asked by: Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the recruitment process of the new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) began before the independent review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 could provide its recommendations on the IASC.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The recruitment process for the new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) commenced in June 2018, following the resignation of the previous IASC in May. This was before the announcement of the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act (MSA) on 31st July.
The reviewers published an interim report on the findings on the IASC in December 2018, which included a recommendation to pause the recruitment. Given the critical nature of the role the Home Secretary decided to proceed with the appointment process and to work with the new post holder to take forward relevant recommendations