Committee takes evidence on Human trafficking and slavery in the UK

• Parliament TV: Draft Modern Slavery Bill Committee evidence session - morning meeting
• Parliament TV: Draft Modern Slavery Bill Committee evidence session - afternoon meeting
• Draft Modern Slavery Bill

The morning session will first look at whether there should be separate offences around child slavery where, for example, the trafficking and exploitation of children does not involve sexual exploitation. The second morning session will look at whether the Dutch rapporteur model has any lessons for how the UK Anti-Slavery Commissioner proposed in the draft Bill should be set up.

The afternoon session will look at proposals for tackling trafficking and slavery offences in the devolved administrations of the UK.

Witnesses

At 10.15am in Committee Room 5, Palace of Westminster

• ECPAT UK
• Counter Human Trafficking Bureau;
• Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen, Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children.

At 2.15pm in Committee Room 5, Palace of Westminster

• Jenny Marra MSP, Scottish Parliament
• Joyce Watson AM, Welsh Assembly
• David Ford, Minister for Justice in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Assembly

The Committee has is inquiring into the content and form of the draft Bill, its likely effectiveness and the contribution it would, if enacted, make to tackling modern slavery. Detailed proposals for alternative wording are also welcome.

The draft Bill proposes to consolidate and simplify existing criminal offences relating to slavery and human trafficking and introduce civil orders to restrict the activity of those involved in or convicted of slavery and trafficking offences.  The draft Bill also proposes the appointment of an Anti-Slavery Commissioner to encourage good practice in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of offences. The draft Bill was published on 16 December 2013 alongside a white paper detailing the Government’s non-legislative approach to modern slavery.

In particular the Committee is examining:

• Would the draft Bill be effective in reducing the incidence of and preventing modern slavery?
• Are there other provisions which should be included in the draft Bill?
• What non-legislative action needs to be taken to ensure effective implementation of the draft Bill?
• Does the draft Bill achieve its objectives effectively and fairly?
• Does the draft Bill provide for adequate safeguarding of survivors of slavery and trafficking?
• How could the proposals for the Anti-Slavery Commissioner be improved?  

For more information and guidance on submitting evidence please see here

Further information

• Commons Library Standard Note: Draft Modern Slavery Bill
• About Parliament: Select Committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch Committees