Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to update guidance on renewable residence permits for victims of trafficking whose residence is necessary for the UK to meet its objective under the Trafficking Convention to make clear that there is no additional requirement to show compelling circumstances.

The Court of Appeal issued a judgment in the case of (PK(Ghana) v SSHD) on 13 February 2018. We are considering the implications of the judgment.

Whilst we consider next steps interim guidance has been issued to caseworkers to put on hold any refusals of discretionary leave to remain decisions for confirmed victims of modern slavery. Grants of discretionary leave are continuing. This guidance is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interim-operation-guidance-discretionary-leave-for-victims-of-modern-slavery

In line with standard practice, support providers under the Victim Care Contract can seek an extension of support for confirmed victims who are awaiting a discretionary leave decision.