Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the £1.73 million of funding for safe accommodation for victims of modern slavery announced by the Government on 2 May 2020, whether recovery needs assessments are being undertaken to move on potential victims in National Referral Mechanism scheme.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The safety and security of those supported through the modern slavery Victim Care Contract (VCC) is a top priority for government.?During the COVID-19 pandemic, our contingency planning continues to focus on ensuring victims of modern slavery can access the essential services and support they need. We have secured £1.73 million of the funding for charities, announced by the Chancellor last month, to provide emergency support to victims of modern slavery who have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
The first question makes reference to asylum services being withdrawn – it should be noted that the asylum system operates independently of the National Referral Mechanism, and therefore a negative Conclusive Grounds decision would have no immediate bearing on an individual’s asylum support provision. The asylum system would notify the individual of any subsequent decisions made in relation to their asylum support and/or asylum claim.
There are two main scenarios under which victims in outreach may be required to leave VCC support. Victims in outreach who receive a positive Conclusive Grounds will receive at least a further 45 calendar days of move-on support during which the support provider will help the victim transition out of support. The point at which a victim will be exited from VCC support will be determined through a Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) conducted in accordance with the RNA process guidance. Victims in outreach who receive a negative Conclusive Grounds decision, determining them not to be a victim of modern slavery, receive 9 working days of move-on support. An extension request may be made where an individual requires a longer period to exit support safely and securely.
With reference to the second question, the RNA process informs tailored move on plans to help confirmed victims (those with a positive conclusive grounds decision) transition out of the VCC and back into the community where appropriate.?These assessments continue to be undertaken during COVID-19. The assessment considers the availability of alternative, and often more sustainable, support services and victims only begin a move-on process if it is suitable for them to do so, in line with their recovery needs.?The wider impact of Covid-19 on access to alternative services is considered when conducting the Recovery Needs Assessment.
The third question seeks clarification on policy and operational responsibility for victims of modern slavery during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Home Office is responsible for developing policy and for ensuring the development of robust contingency plans to ensure the safety of victims during this crisis. The Salvation Army, as the Prime Contractor of the VCC, has operational responsibility to ensure the delivery of these plans. We are working closely with The Salvation Army to ensure that victims are receiving the support they need, and we will continue to review policy and processes to maintain the services to victims during these uncertain times.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many violent incidences have been recorded in betting shops in the six months (a) before 1 April 2019 and (b) after 1 April 2019.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Home Office collects data on the number of violent crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales and these data are published quarterly.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables
However, these data do not identify whether the offence took place at a betting shop.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will ensure any future protections for shop staff selling age-restricted products apply to charity shop volunteers who sell those products.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government recognises the damaging impact that violence and abuse can have on victims, businesses, and the wider community; and we are committed to tackling this issue.
That is why on 5 April the Home Office launched a call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff. It will run to 28 June and is open to all organisations and individuals affected by this issue, including those working in charity shops. The call for evidence will strengthen our understanding of the issue and inform our next steps.
In addition, I co-chair the National Retail Crime Steering Group which brings together a wide range of representatives, including the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, to help ensure our response to retail crime is as robust as it can be. Membership of the Group is kept under regular review and we will ensure the charitable sector is appropriately represented.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will create a place for representatives of charity retail volunteers on the national retail crime steering group.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government recognises the damaging impact that violence and abuse can have on victims, businesses, and the wider community; and we are committed to tackling this issue.
That is why on 5 April the Home Office launched a call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff. It will run to 28 June and is open to all organisations and individuals affected by this issue, including those working in charity shops. The call for evidence will strengthen our understanding of the issue and inform our next steps.
In addition, I co-chair the National Retail Crime Steering Group which brings together a wide range of representatives, including the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, to help ensure our response to retail crime is as robust as it can be. Membership of the Group is kept under regular review and we will ensure the charitable sector is appropriately represented.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will ensure that the call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff receives representations from charity shop volunteers.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government recognises the damaging impact that violence and abuse can have on victims, businesses, and the wider community; and we are committed to tackling this issue.
That is why on 5 April the Home Office launched a call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff. It will run to 28 June and is open to all organisations and individuals affected by this issue, including those working in charity shops. The call for evidence will strengthen our understanding of the issue and inform our next steps.
In addition, I co-chair the National Retail Crime Steering Group which brings together a wide range of representatives, including the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, to help ensure our response to retail crime is as robust as it can be. Membership of the Group is kept under regular review and we will ensure the charitable sector is appropriately represented.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussion he has had with Police and Crime Commissioners on tackling crime targeted at charity shops.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government recognises the damaging impact that violence and abuse can have on victims, businesses, and the wider community; and we are committed to tackling this issue.
That is why on 5 April the Home Office launched a call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff. It will run to 28 June and is open to all organisations and individuals affected by this issue, including those working in charity shops. The call for evidence will strengthen our understanding of the issue and inform our next steps.
In addition, I co-chair the National Retail Crime Steering Group which brings together a wide range of representatives, including the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, to help ensure our response to retail crime is as robust as it can be. Membership of the Group is kept under regular review and we will ensure the charitable sector is appropriately represented.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department will take to monitor the implementation of the National Police Chief’s Council's operational guidance for pre-charge bail.
Answered by Nick Hurd
Pre-charge bail is a vital policing tool for investigating crime and protecting victims and witnesses. The NPCC have issued new operational guidance to help police forces take these important decisions and use pre-charge bail whenever it is necessary and proportionate.
The implementation of this guidance, and broader national issues around the use of bail, will continue to be monitored through the Home Office chaired Pre-Charge Bail Implementation Board, which brings together partners from across the criminal justice system.
The Home Office remains fully supportive of the use of pre-charge bail when neces-sary and proportionate.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to increase the availability and quality of specialist care and support for child victims of trafficking.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Independent Child Trafficking Advocates (ICTAs) are an independent source of advice for trafficked children and somebody who can speak up on their behalf.
The Government has successfully rolled out ICTAs to one third of all local authorities in England and Wales, in line with the commitment made in July last year. Where the service is available, all children that are potential victims of trafficking are eligible for support.
The Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act led by Frank Field, Baroness Butler-Sloss and Maria Miller has recently considered Section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which makes provisions for ICTAs. The Review’s final report can be found https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-the-modern-slavery-act-final-report
The Government is currently carefully considering the recommendations of the review on the improvements we can make to the ICTA service, and we remain committed to rolling ICTAs out nationally.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria he will use to decide whether to include a minimum unit pricing for alcohol in the new joint alcohol strategy.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The introduction of minimum unit pricing in England remains under review pending the impact of its implementation in Scotland.
Home Office ministers have held no meetings with representatives of the alcohol industry and public health advocates to discuss minimum unit pricing for alcohol. However, Home Office officials have engaged throughout 2018 with a range of stakeholders as part of our alcohol policy work , including the health sector, academics, the voluntary sector and representatives of the alcohol industry and the licensed trade.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had in 2018 with representatives of (i) the alcohol industry and (ii) public health advocates to discuss minimum unit pricing for alcohol.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The introduction of minimum unit pricing in England remains under review pending the impact of its implementation in Scotland.
Home Office ministers have held no meetings with representatives of the alcohol industry and public health advocates to discuss minimum unit pricing for alcohol. However, Home Office officials have engaged throughout 2018 with a range of stakeholders as part of our alcohol policy work , including the health sector, academics, the voluntary sector and representatives of the alcohol industry and the licensed trade.