CPS and Department for Business and Trade to give evidence on Modern Slavery
Friday 26 April 2024
On Monday, the House of Lords Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee will be hearing from officials from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Department for Business and Trade, as it continues its inquiry into the Act.
The session will take place on Monday 29 April 2024 and can be followed live on Parliament TV.
Giving evidence at 4pm will be:
- Lynette Woodrow, Modern Slavery Lead at the Crown Prosecution Service
Questions the committee is likely to ask include:
- The prosecution rate for modern slavery offences is only around 1.8%. Does this reflect a problem with the legislation or its implementation, or is there an issue with the recording of the offending?
- Gathering evidence to prosecute modern slavery offences can be challenging. What is the CPS doing to improve this?
- Modern slavery is a serious crime and the Modern Slavery Act stipulates a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Are perpetrators adequately punished in practice?
- Slavery and Trafficking Risk and Prevention Orders are powerful tools introduced by the Modern Slavery Act. What is your experience of how these have operated in practice?
Giving evidence at 5pm will be:
- Matthew Davies, Director of Trans-Pacific Negotiations and Policy at the Department for Business and Trade
- Eoin Parker, Director of Company Law and Governance at the Department for Business and Trade
- Mike Warren, Director of Labour Markets at the Department of Business and Trade
Questions the committee is likely to ask include:
- There have been calls for improvements to be made to supply chains provisions in the Modern Slavery Act. What update can you provide on planned changes?
- Supply chains are often complex and are not always well understood by businesses. What engagement does the Government make with the private sector to encourage best practice?
- The financial sector has substantial influence over global business. What conversations has the Government had with it concerning modern slavery?
- Responsibility for modern slavery policy is divided across government. What work does the Department for Business and Trade do on this with other departments?
