The Rt Hon Theresa May MP

Home Secretary

2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

07 March 2017

Dear Theresa,

Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill

I am writing to urge you to give the Government's support to Lord McColl's private member's Bill, currently at Committee stage in the House of Lords, and which as you will know provides for guaranteed support to modern slavery survivors during the National Referral Mechanism period and for an offer of support for up to 12 months afterwards, as recommended by the Work and Pensions Committee in April last year.

I am aware of the Government's announcement, in October, of plans to offer an additional 45 days of support to survivors. Although this is welcome, 45 days is clearly insufficient to address the challenges that survivors face. Many do not begin to process the trauma they have experienced until much later than 45 days after the decision about their status is made. To feel able to begin this psychological recovery many survivors need to have certainty that they will have somewhere to stay and food to eat for a sustained period of time.

The additional 45 days will also not remove the risk of destitution and re-trafficking. At present those survivors who do not have the right to stay in the UK beyond the 45 days, will need to seek special discretionary leave to remain. However, many applications are not processed within 45 days. All too often when the 45 days is over, destitution and re-trafficking will be a significant risk while the individuals wait for a decision about their future without support.

Ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, I have already joined with MPs from six parties to urge the Government to actively support significant political and financial investment in global Commonwealth leadership in this area, and it occurs to me that offering support to Lord McColl’s Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill would be a very welcome way of demonstrating such political leadership.

Yours sincerely,