Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2018 to Question 129973 on Slavery, for what reasons an extension of support for victims of trafficking will not be automatic until (a) her Department publishes its updated guidance on discretionary leave to remain and (b) a decision has been made on those cases in accordance with that updated guidance.

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.

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