Tag: Graham Evans

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 25 April 2014, Official Report, column 717W, on human trafficking, what tailored support is given to victims who have received a Conclusive Grounds decision to safely return home; to which countries such victims returned in January to March 2014; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley

Currently, there is no specific return and reintegration package for those who
have received a positive Conclusive Grounds decision and wish to return home.
The Assisted Voluntary Returns package is available to nationals of non-EEA
countries. Where possible and appropriate to do so, the Government will work
with host countries’ Government agencies to ensure that the victim receives
adequate support.

Information pertaining to the countries to which victims returned via the AVR
programme is not collated centrally and would require a detailed examination of
case files in order to extract such data.

Between January and March 2014, The Salvation Army recorded that 30
individuals, in their care, returned to their country of origin. These were:

Country of Origin Count
China 1
Czech Repubulic 2
Hungary 3
Latvia 3
Lithuania 4
Poland 1
Romania 9
Slovakia 4
Sri Lanka 1
Congo 1
Uganda 1
Grand Total 30

Care and support for victims, once they receive a positive Conclusive Grounds
decision is being considered as part of the review of the National Referral
Mechanism and as part of the re-tender of the Government’s victim support
service.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 441W, on human trafficking: Albania, how many female victims of trafficking have returned from England using the International Organisation for Migration voluntary return package and taken up the facilities made available by the government in Albania; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley

In November 2013, the UK Government and the Albanian Government, working with
the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), established a voluntary
return package for female victims of trafficking who wished to return to
Albania. This comprehensive package includes the provision of secure
accommodation in Albania (with guards and social services on site), child care
assistance where required, and training or support to establish a business or
enter the labour market. This provides the high level of support and assistance
required for victims who wish to return to Albania to rebuild their lives.
Although no victims have yet availed themselves of the package, a number of
potential cases have been identified and the Home Office is actively working
with the Albanian Government, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and IOM to
improve the promotion of the scheme amongst those who may qualify and identify
and address any perceived barriers to return.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 25 April 2014, Official Report, column 717W, on human trafficking, what tailored support is given to victims who have received Conclusive Grounds decisions to integrate into the UK; where such victims came from in January to March 2014; which organisations provide her Department with information on the progress of the victim integration process; and what information her Department holds on how victims have integrated into the UK.

Karen Bradley

Currently, there is no specific integration package for those who have received
a positive Conclusive Grounds decision and wish to stay in the UK. The
Salvation Army, which delivers the Government’s support service for adult
victims of human trafficking, provides support to those victims leaving its
service by facilitating access to mainstream benefits, housing and local
services as well as pastoral support such as assistance with completing
application forms.

Care and support for victims, once they receive a positive Conclusive Grounds
decision is being considered as part of the review of the National Referral
Mechanism and as part of the re-tender of the Government’s victim support
service.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 441W, on human trafficking: Albania, how much funding has been made available by (a) the Home Office and (b) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to establish the International Organisation Migration voluntary return package; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley

In November 2013, the UK Government and the Albanian Government, working with
the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), established a voluntary
return package for female victims of trafficking who wished to return to
Albania. This package includes the provision of secure accommodation in Albania
(with guards and social services on site), child care assistance where
required, and training or support to establish a business or enter the labour
market. This provides the support and assistance required for victims who wish
to return to Albania to rebuild their lives.

The IOM package is funded by the Returns and Reintegration Fund. This is a
cross-governmental programme, to which the Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
Department for International Development, the Home Office and the Ministry of
Justice contribute resources.

The IOM package is funded to the value of £138,000 over an 18 month period,
commencing in November 2013.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that the regulations governing the new contract for the specialist support providers allow bids to provide ongoing care and support once victims exit the shelter service, at the end of the 45 days period irrespective of whether they have received a Conclusive Grounds decision.

Karen Bradley

Once they receive a positive Reasonable Grounds decision, potential victims of
trafficking are entitled to a minimum of 45 days’ care and support which can
continue up to the point they receive a positive Conclusive Grounds decision,
whichever is the later. Article 12 of the European Convention on Action
against Trafficking in Human Beings requires the UK to provide a minimum of 30
days’ support for victims of human trafficking. The current UK Government
policy goes further than the European Convention on Action against Trafficking
obligations by providing a minimum of 45 days support once a Reasonable Grounds
decision is made.

Care and support for victims, once they receive a positive Conclusive Grounds
decision, is being considered as part of the ongoing review of the National
Referral Mechanism and as part of the re-tender of the Government’s care
contract for adult victims of human trafficking.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the NSPCC about its current and future plans to train staff to run her planned modern slavery helpline; what that training will include; what the estimated cost is of such training; and which body will provide the training.

Karen Bradley

We are working closely with the NSPCC to pilot a Modern Slavery Helpline as part of a wider communications and marketing campaign, to raise awareness of modern slavery. The helpline will be established by the end of July 2014. We are working with a number of non-governmental organisations and law enforcement agencies to ensure that all callers to the helpline can access any additional help, advice and support they need.

Training will be provided to all call handlers working on the helpline, which will be delivered by the NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice Centre and the
Metropolitan Police Service, building on their specific expertise and knowledge in this area. The training will include the nature of modern slavery, the information to be obtained from individuals who call the helpline as well as organisations that can provide further support and guidance. There are no specific costs to the Home Office associated with providing this training.

Each call to the helpline will be considered on a case-by-case basis and, where an individual requires further information or advice, the helpline call handlers will provide the details of other organisations for the caller to contact, as appropriate. This is regardless of whether the caller is from an EU or non-EU country.

Stakeholders, including NGOs, have been engaged in the communications and marketing campaign which underpins the helpline.
The NSPCC is ideally placed to deliver what we need given their existing infrastructure and expertise in safeguarding issues. The NSPCC runs a number of helplines, including Childline, FGM helpline and the Child Trafficking Advice Centre (CTAC) line. We have engaged NSPCC by means of a formal Grant Agreement, not a Contract, which will be managed using standard Home Office grant terms and conditions in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to whom the NSPCC will refer cases of people (a) from EU countries and (b) who are not EU nationals, who call her planned modern slavery helpline and are identified as victims of modern slavery.

Karen Bradley

We are working closely with the NSPCC to pilot a Modern Slavery Helpline as part of a wider communications and marketing campaign, to raise awareness of modern slavery. The helpline will be established by the end of July 2014. We are working with a number of non-governmental organisations and law enforcement agencies to ensure that all callers to the helpline can access any additional help, advice and support they need.

Training will be provided to all call handlers working on the helpline, which will be delivered by the NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice Centre and the
Metropolitan Police Service, building on their specific expertise and knowledge in this area. The training will include the nature of modern slavery, the information to be obtained from individuals who call the helpline as well as organisations that can provide further support and guidance. There are no specific costs to the Home Office associated with providing this training.

Each call to the helpline will be considered on a case-by-case basis and, where an individual requires further information or advice, the helpline call handlers will provide the details of other organisations for the caller to contact, as appropriate. This is regardless of whether the caller is from an EU or non-EU country.

Stakeholders, including NGOs, have been engaged in the communications and marketing campaign which underpins the helpline.
The NSPCC is ideally placed to deliver what we need given their existing infrastructure and expertise in safeguarding issues. The NSPCC runs a number of helplines, including Childline, FGM helpline and the Child Trafficking Advice Centre (CTAC) line. We have engaged NSPCC by means of a formal Grant Agreement, not a Contract, which will be managed using standard Home Office grant terms and conditions in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation she undertook with (a) non-governmental organisations, (b) civil society, (c) church organisations, (d) front-line professionals, (e) social workers and (f) local authority and Health Service staff on the creation of a modern slavery helpline prior to her announcement that such a helpline was being set up.

Karen Bradley

We are working closely with the NSPCC to pilot a Modern Slavery Helpline as part of a wider communications and marketing campaign, to raise awareness of modern slavery. The helpline will be established by the end of July 2014. We are working with a number of non-governmental organisations and law enforcement agencies to ensure that all callers to the helpline can access any additional help, advice and support they need.

Training will be provided to all call handlers working on the helpline, which will be delivered by the NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice Centre and the
Metropolitan Police Service, building on their specific expertise and knowledge in this area. The training will include the nature of modern slavery, the information to be obtained from individuals who call the helpline as well as organisations that can provide further support and guidance. There are no specific costs to the Home Office associated with providing this training.

Each call to the helpline will be considered on a case-by-case basis and, where an individual requires further information or advice, the helpline call handlers will provide the details of other organisations for the caller to contact, as appropriate. This is regardless of whether the caller is from an EU or non-EU country.

Stakeholders, including NGOs, have been engaged in the communications and marketing campaign which underpins the helpline.
The NSPCC is ideally placed to deliver what we need given their existing infrastructure and expertise in safeguarding issues. The NSPCC runs a number of helplines, including Childline, FGM helpline and the Child Trafficking Advice Centre (CTAC) line. We have engaged NSPCC by means of a formal Grant Agreement, not a Contract, which will be managed using standard Home Office grant terms and conditions in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-05-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many officials are employed in her Department’s Human Trafficking Unit; what the purpose of the unit is; and what the role is of each such official.

Karen Bradley

A dedicated Modern Slavery Unit has been set up in the Home Office to lead and
coordinate cross-Government activity to stamp out this terrible crime. The
Modern Slavery Unit currently comprises 13 members of staff and is responsible
for a comprehensive programme of activity, which includes development of the
Modern Slavery Bill, and management of the adult victim care contract. In
addition, one member of staff has been seconded from the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office to lead on international issues. There are also six members
of staff working on the review of the National Referral Mechanism. This team is
independent of the Modern Slavery Unit.

The Modern Slavery Unit is further supported by a number of staff across the
Home Office who work on related modern slavery issues including child
trafficking and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. This is in addition to
the operational caseworkers in UK Visas and Immigration, who are involved in
decision making on individual cases.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-06-04.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to encourage young savers.

Mr David Gauke

At the Budget it was announced that, from 1 July 2014, the limits for Junior ISAs and Child Trust Funds (CTFs) will rise from £3,720 to £4,000.

Following a public consultation, the Government has decided to allow the transfer of savings from CTFs to Junior ISAs. We are committed to ensuring that there is a clear and simple way to save for all children and believe that parents should be allowed the opportunity to transfer from a CTF to a Junior ISA if they consider this to be the most appropriate account for their child.

The Government has clauses in the Deregulation Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, which will enable the transfers. We hope this option to transfer will be available by April 2015.