Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Modern Slavery

Thursday 18 March 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Bill Esterson asked the Minister about steps being taken to increase prosecutions for modern slavery.
  • Tan Dhesi asked the Attorney General how he plans to reverse the trend of low prosecution rates for modern slavery.
  • The Attorney General stated that the Government has focused on tackling modern slavery and the CPS prosecutes cases according to its guidelines.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central
Crime & Law Enforcement Employment Safeguarding & DBS
Context

The question arises from concerns over the lack of prosecutions for modern slavery cases despite high numbers of reported incidents.

Question

What steps he is taking to help increase the number of prosecutions for modern slavery. Shockingly, more than 19,000 human trafficking and slavery crimes have been left unsolved since the passing of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, with suspects having faced action in fewer than one in 20 cases. Even though the volume of offences has increased every single year since 2015, under this Conservative Government the prosecution levels for modern slavery charges have fallen abysmally.

Answer from Michael Ellis

The Crown Prosecution Service continues to work with police and law enforcement agencies to prosecute modern slavery cases. Early engagement among prosecutors and investigators is central to a successful prosecution. When requested, the CPS will provide early investigative advice in such challenging cases to enable robust cases to be built. I should point out that the CPS now charges more than 75% of cases referred to it by the police. The Government have rightly focused enormous efforts on tackling this problem. All CPS areas have an appointed a modern slavery lead, who is dedicated to this matter and attends regular meetings with their local police force lead.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Attorney General did not provide specific steps or commitments to address the worrying trend in prosecution levels mentioned by the questioner.

How: Focus On Existing Efforts, Deflect Criticism Of Government'S Record

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Q2 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The question addresses the poor prosecution rate for modern slavery offences under the Modern Slavery Act, highlighting a decline in cases despite an increase in reported incidents.

Question

Will the Attorney General tell us how he intends to reverse this worrying trend which has happened under this Government's watch?

Answer from Michael Ellis

The hon. Gentleman will know that the Government have rightly focused enormous efforts on tackling this problem. The Crown Prosecution Service, for which I have superintendence responsibilities, prosecutes all cases that meet its appropriate guidelines, once the police have referred them to the CPS. All CPS areas have an appointed a modern slavery lead, who is dedicated to this matter and attends regular meetings with their local police force lead.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Attorney General did not provide specific actions or commitments to reverse the declining prosecution levels for modern slavery charges.

How: Focus On Existing Efforts, Deflect Criticism Of Government'S Record

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Q3 Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central
Employment Standards & Ethics
Context

The question addresses the procurement practices of the Government regarding personal protective equipment from a company suspected of modern slavery activities.

Question

I heard what the Attorney General said about his commitment to enforcing the Modern Slavery Act in respect of supply chains in the private sector; will he now confirm that the Government will set an example and eradicate modern slavery, including the appalling example that I just described, from their own procurement practices?

Answer from Michael Ellis

I do not recognise the point that the hon. Gentleman makes. What he ought to do, if I may respectfully suggest it, is to look at what this Government have done. It is on the record that the Government are achieving those issues that we have been discussing, namely: an increase in available criminal offences; an increase in the means by which to prosecute; and more resources to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service in order to achieve the prosecutions.

Not addressed: The Attorney General did not confirm any specific action regarding procurement practices for modern slavery eradication.

How: Redirecting Blame, Suggesting The Questioner Research Further

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