Have your say on the Modern Slavery Bill

Do you have relevant expertise and experience or a special interest in the Government’s Modern Slavery Bill?

If so, you can submit your views in writing to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee which is going to consider this Bill.

Modern Slavery Bill 2014-15

Aims of the Modern Slavery Bill

The Bill extends to England and Wales and has four main parts:

Part 1 would largely consolidate the existing slavery and trafficking offences.
Part 2 would introduce two new civil orders to enable the courts to place restrictions on those convicted of modern slavery offences, or those involved in such offences but not yet convicted.
Part 3 would establish a new Anti-Slavery Commissioner to encourage good practice on the prevention of modern slavery offences and the identification of victims.
Part 4 is based largely on the Joint Committee’s recommendations on treatment of victims. It includes a new statutory defence for slavery or trafficking victims compelled to commit criminal offences, and provision for new child trafficking advocates.

Follow the progress of the Modern Slavery Bill

The Modern Slavery Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 10 June 2014. The second reading of the Bill took place on Tuesday 8 July, giving MPs their first opportunity to debate the main principles of the Bill.

The Bill has now been sent to the Public Bill Committee, where detailed examination of the Bill will take place.

Guidance on submitting written evidence

Deadline for written evidence submissions

The Public Bill Committee is now able to receive written evidence. The sooner you send in your submission, the more time the Committee will have to take it into consideration.

The Committee is expected to meet for the first time on Monday 21 July; it will stop receiving written evidence at the end of the Committee stage on Tuesday 14 October 2014.

Please note: When the Public Bill Committee reports, it is no longer able to receive written evidence and it could report earlier than Tuesday 14 October.

What should written evidence cover?

Your submission should address matters contained within the Bill and concentrate on issues where you have a special interest or expertise, and factual information of which you would like the Committee to be aware.

It is helpful if the submission includes a brief introduction about you or your organisation. The submission should not have been previously published or circulated elsewhere.

If you have any concerns about your submission, please contact the Scrutiny Unit (details below).

How should written evidence be submitted?

Your submission should be emailed to scrutiny@parliament.uk. Please note that submissions sent to the Government department in charge of the Bill will not be treated as evidence to the Public Bill Committee.

Submissions should be in the form of a Word document. A summary should be provided. Paragraphs should be numbered, but there should be no page numbering.

Essential statistics or further details can be added as annexes, which should also be numbered. To make publication easier, please avoid the use of coloured graphs, complex diagrams or pictures.

As a guideline, submissions should not exceed 3,000 words.

Please include in the covering email the name, address, telephone number and email address of the person responsible for the submission. The submission should be dated.

What will happen to my evidence?

The written evidence will be circulated to all Committee Members to inform their consideration of the Bill.

Most submissions will also be published on the internet as soon as possible after the Committee has started sitting.

The Scrutiny Unit can help with any queries about written evidence.

Scrutiny Unit contact details

Email: scrutiny@parliament.uk
Telephone: 020 7219 8387
Fax: 020 7219 8381
Address: Ian Hook
Senior Executive Officer
Scrutiny Unit, 7 Millbank
London SW1P 3JA