Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

Part of Questions to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip – in the Senedd at 2:35 pm on 15 September 2020.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 2:35, 15 September 2020

Further to the previous question, we're seeing data published in June showing that, for the first time, Minister, since 2016, the reports of suspected modern slavery in the UK were down by 14 per cent, and this is raising the worry that it's actually that victims are being pushed further out of sight and away from seeking help. So, can I ask our Welsh Government to make formal representations to UK Ministers, to first of all give the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority the resources to do their job, as they are at full stretch already, and also to urge UK Ministers to speed up the national referral mechanisms for victims to access care from housing and healthcare to legal aid, because this is a process that can currently take from six weeks to, indeed, several years? Thank you, Minister.