Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that sentencing guidelines for modern slavery adequately reflect the severity of that crime.

Sentencing guidelines are issued by the Sentencing Council, which is independent of Parliament and Government. Last year, following public consultation the Council issued sentencing guidelines for offences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, such as slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking. These are the first dedicated guidelines for offences under the Act. The guidelines aim to promote consistency of approach in this area of sentencing and help the courts pass appropriate sentences when dealing with these offences.

The Government recognises there is yet more we can do to tackle this crime. We are currently reviewing the 2014 Modern Slavery Strategy to build on the progress we have made to date, adapt our approach to the evolving nature of these crimes, and continue our leadership in tackling modern slavery.