Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted in Part
Home Office stakeholder engagement on modern slavery legislation remains unacceptably poor.
Recommendation
The Home Office’s approach to stakeholder engagement has been lackadaisical. It has taken the Home Office two years to launch a new formation of stakeholder groups (Modern Slavery Stakeholder Forums), during which time key legislation affecting victims of trafficking has been enacted with minimal or non-existent consultation with key human trafficking stakeholders. This is unacceptable. It is evident that this lack of Home Office accountability has been further exacerbated by the vacancy of the post of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner for the last eighteen months, which we will discuss later in this chapter. (Paragraph 40) 72 Human trafficking
Government Response Summary
The government welcomed a new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner at the end of 2023, addressing the vacancy. It also committed to continuing to work closely with stakeholders through Modern Slavery Engagement Forums.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
3. The Government were also delighted to welcome a new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner at the end of 2023, who we trust will provide tremendous insight and expertise as she takes up this role. 18. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders to inform our approach to tackling all forms of exploitation, including through Modern Slavery Engagement Forums (MSEFs). 22. We note that the Committee heard from the new IASC on 6 February, and we look forward to working with her to continually improve the UK’s response to modern slavery.