Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether enrolment on English-language courses in the UK has been used to support visa applications connected to trafficking or exploitation; and if so, whether any cases of concern have been identified.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office monitors trafficking and exploitation risks across the immigration system, and identifies and supports potential victims including through the National Referral Mechanism.

However, there is no evidence indicating systemic misuse of English‑language course enrolment for trafficking or exploitation purposes.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to recover the £24 million of public funds lost in relation to the PPE contract for protective coveralls awarded to SG Recruitment; and what is the status of the claim submitted to the company’s liquidators.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department awarded personal protective equipment contracts to SG Recruitment during the COVID‑19 pandemic, including a contract for protective coveralls. The protective coveralls supplied under this contract did not meet the required specifications and were rejected. The Department therefore holds a claim in respect of the contract.

SG Recruitment is now in liquidation. The Department has submitted its claim to the company’s liquidators and will continue to engage with the liquidation process. The liquidators will advise creditors of the outcome of their investigations, and any distributions to creditors, in due course. The liquidators’ final report will be published at Companies House at the conclusion of the liquidation.

The handling of the Department’s claim against SG Recruitment was examined by the Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner as part of his review into COVID-19 era commercial activity.