Tim Loughton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-05-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department’s Personal Advocate Pilot for trafficked children will start; how non-governmental organisations will participate in the schemes; and when each pilot scheme in each participating local authority will start and end.

Karen Bradley

The Modern Slavery Bill will enable us to strengthen our response to human
trafficking and modern slavery for both adults and children. We announced in
January our intention to trial specialist independent advocates for victims of
child trafficking.

23 local authorities that represent a wide demographic range as well as major
transport hubs and asylum screening units have agreed to participate in the
trial. These areas also have the highest rates of trafficking referrals to the
National Referral Mechanism or are areas where we are aware of a high number of
trafficking investigations by law enforcement agencies.

We are currently considering bids from a number of voluntary and community
services organisations that were identified as potential providers of the
advocacy service because of the particular expertise they hold. When the trial
goes live we will invite a number of relevant stakeholders, including
non-governmental organisations, to inform the project through a consultative
group.

We have to consider this matter following the passing in the Lords of an
amendment to the Immigration Bill that has put on hold our proposals for these
trials.