Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner 2023-02-06
2023-02-06
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The post of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner has been vacant for 10 months. In the third quarter of last year, 4,586 potential victims were referred to the Home Office, marking a 38% increase from the previous year.
When she plans to appoint an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner given that the post has been vacant for 10 months and in Q3 of last year, no fewer than 4,586 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the Home Office—38% up on the previous year.
The role of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, as set out in the Modern Slavery Act 2015, is to encourage good practice in preventing, detecting, investigating and prosecuting slavery and human trafficking offences. The Home Secretary recognises the importance of this role and has committed to running a new competition to recruit for it; the process will begin imminently.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific timeline or date was provided for when the appointment would take place.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The post of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner has been vacant for 10 months, with a significant increase in potential victims referred to the Home Office.
I thank the Minister warmly for her answer. She illustrates perfectly the need for my private Member's Bill, which would allow Parliament to make this appointment instead of the Government. The post is already vacant for 10 months and 4,586 potential victims were referred in Q3 last year—up 38% from previous year. Why does their record on modern slavery issues make lack of scrutiny attractive?
I do not accept that narrative. The competition will open soon, there are many good candidates and we need a proper process; these things cannot be rushed.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner's specific ask about why the government prefers lack of scrutiny was not addressed directly.
Changes Subject To Competition Details
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Over 4,500 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the national referral mechanism in Q3 2022. Over 200 children seeking asylum have gone missing from Home Office hotels.
In Q3 2022 over 4,500 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the NRM—a record since its introduction—and 43% of them were children. Just last month, people learned that more than 200 children seeking asylum went missing from Home Office hotels. The Government ignored warnings about the Nationality and Borders Act making things worse. We have seen a failure to appoint a new anti-slavery commissioner and just one conviction for child trafficking last year. Does this show they are on top of this issue?
There is a big history with trafficking and dangerous gangs must be looked at. However, it is this government who have confidence to do something about it. There are issues other Members of House were reluctant to look at; important that ethnicity of each alleged criminal is noted.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific question about the one conviction and whether the government was addressing child trafficking effectively was not directly addressed.
Changes Subject To Discussing Confidence In Dealing With Issues
Response accuracy