Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to ensure adults with a positive Reasonable Grounds decision can enter support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract; how many attempts are made to contact a person; and what happens if the person cannot be contacted.

Government is committed to identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery, to assist with their recovery needs and help them begin rebuilding their lives.

All adult potential victims who receive a positive reasonable grounds decision can access support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC), subject to their consent which can be given at the time of the NRM referral, or when transitioning from child to adult support structures.

Where consent is provided, The Salvation Army (TSA) will attempt to contact the victim on multiple occasions, at different times of day, and may use legal representatives or first responders to confirm contact details if necessary.

If contact has not been made within 48 hours, the victim or their legal representative can contact TSA directly to arrange entry into support.

Home Office do not currently publish data on numbers of potential victims who choose not to consent to MSVCC support.

For potential victims transitioning from child to adult support structures, we are also developing information packs for victims and the professionals who support them, which aim to enhance understanding of the consent process and adult support offer to improve informed decision making on accessing support.