Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to extend the time period for a Conclusive Grounds Decision in the National Referral Mechanism from 45 to 90 days.

All potential victims of modern slavery receive intensive and specialist support for a minimum of 45 days, plus a further 14 days if they are conclusively found to be a victim to assist with their return home, their reintegration into society or their transfer to mainstream support.

This level of support means that the UK is exceeding its obligations under Article 12 of the European Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings (ECAT). The Government is piloting changes to aspects of the National Referral Mechanism and we will consider whether changes to existing arrangements are needed once the pilot has been evaluated.