Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's News story of 29 June 2020, New contract to deliver improved support for modern slavery victims, whether people provided with accommodation under the Victim Care Contract since the beginning of the covid-19 outbreak will be able to remain in that accommodation for another three months.

In line with Public Health England guidance in response to COVID-19, the policy change announced on 6 April 2020 meant individuals who were accommodated in the VCC, would have continued access to this accommodation for a three-month period. The policy was reviewed at the end of June, with consideration of government wide COVID-19 advice.

The review determined that the policy will remain in place for a further period of one month from 6 July to the 6 August 2020. This is a transitional period, and from 6 August, the move on processes and periods set out in the Modern Slavery Act 2015: statutory guidance for England and Wales will resume as normal.

The Government is committed ensuring the safety and security of those supported through the modern slavery Victim Care Contract (VCC). Support workers and decision makers will continue to consider government advice, as well as the impacts of COVID-19 on the availability of services and the safety/security of individuals as part of move-on processes.