Written questions by Murray.

What plans the Fair Work Agency has to collect data on Overseas Domestic Worker visa holders at risk of exploitation; and in what way this data will inform the Agency's enforcement priorities.

The Fair Work Agency (FWA) has taken on the former Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority’s responsibility for enforcing legislation relating to labour exploitation and modern slavery. Workers on Overseas Domestic Worker visas have the same protections and rights under employment law as British and settled workers. All employers are expected to comply with UK employment law. The Employment Rights Act 2025 provides a robust legal framework for safe and effective information sharing and data gathering between specified bodies. The FWA will use this framework to help inform and make decisions on future priorities.

When is the next review date for the National Referral Mechanism guidance; and whether that review will consider the barriers to referral routes for Overseas Domestic Worker visa holders at risk of modern slavery.

The “Modern Slavery: Statutory Guidance for England and Wales (under s49 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015) and Non-Statutory Guidance for Scotland and Northern Ireland” is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that it remains current and effective for decision-makers and first responders.Following the conclusion of the Call for Evidence on the Identification of Victims of Modern Slavery, we are considering the evidence received and how identification and referrals can be improved.Overseas Domestic Workers who find themselves a victim of modern slavery can be referred into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) by a designated First Responder.

What his target number is of Strategic Housing Specialists in women's prisons.

There is provision for 50 full-time equivalent Strategic Housing Specialists in England and Wales. Nine of these provide intervention within the twelve prisons in the female estate. The provision of Strategic Housing Specialists is regularly reviewed to ensure consistent coverage of the resettlement estate.

How many Strategic Housing Specialists have been employed in women's prisons; and whether he plans to increase that number.

There is provision for 50 full-time equivalent Strategic Housing Specialists in England and Wales. Nine of these provide intervention within the twelve prisons in the female estate. The provision of Strategic Housing Specialists is regularly reviewed to ensure consistent coverage of the resettlement estate.

How many people currently held in immigration detention have received a positive Reasonable Grounds decision under the the National Referral Mechanism.

This government has been clear that identifying and protecting victims of modern slavery is a priority for this government.Obtaining the specific information requested regarding those in detention with a positive reasonable ground’s decision is not something that can be provided easily.The government publishes regular statistics on the number of referrals into the system alongside the outcomes of those decisions. Those can be found on gov.uk – the most recent publication covering the period July-September 2025 show that the average time taken from referral to reasonable grounds decision was 6 days across both competent authorities.

What estimate she has made of the average time taken to make a Reasonable Grounds decision for people currently held in immigration detention.

This government has been clear that identifying and protecting victims of modern slavery is a priority for this government.Obtaining the specific information requested regarding those in detention with a positive reasonable ground’s decision is not something that can be provided easily.The government publishes regular statistics on the number of referrals into the system alongside the outcomes of those decisions. Those can be found on gov.uk – the most recent publication covering the period July-September 2025 show that the average time taken from referral to reasonable grounds decision was 6 days across both competent authorities.

What steps she plans to take to help ensure that the Border Force’s freight inspection targets at UK borders are met and what recent progress has been made on reaching these targets.

Border Force have, and continue to, hit freight inspection targets and expect that this performance will be maintained throughout the remainder of the financial year.

With reference to the Written Statement of 16 July 2025 on Call for Evidence – Identification of Victims of Modern Slavery, HCWS826, whether the call for evidence will consider the impact of the revised evidential requirements for reasonable grounds decisions on different groups and categories of potential modern slavery victims.

The Identification of Victims of Modern Slavery Call for Evidence launched on 16 July 2025. It invites views on an effective system where victims are recognised early and accurately so they can be protected and receive appropriate assistance and support towards their recovery from exploitation.The Call for Evidence is structured around three themes:1) Definitions of victims of modern slavery;2) Initial identification of victims of modern slavery; and3) Formal identification of victims of modern slavery.The full list of questions in the Call for Evidence is available at Identification of victims of modern slavery - GOV.UK. The Call for Evidence includes questions on the National Referral Mechanism decision-making process, including Reasonable Grounds and Conclusive Grounds decisions.The Call for Evidence will be open for a 12-week period, meaning submissions can be provided up until Wednesday 8 October 2025.Insights gathered through the Call for Evidence and wider stakeholder engagement will inform longer-term policy development.

What plans he has for the future of the Fair Work Agency; what statutory duties it will assume from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority in responding to modern slavery and human trafficking; and what (a) resources, (b) staffing and (c) training he expects them to need.

The Fair Work Agency will take on the full remit of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).Collaborating with other government bodies will be crucial to the Fair Work Agency effectively enforcing employment rights. We have ensured it will be able to share information with specified bodies where disclosures are relevant to their statutory function.The Government is committed to ensuring the Fair Work Agency has what it needs to do its job. The Bill therefore provides for the transfer of existing staff to ensure we retain the relevant expertise.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the structures in place for the Fair Work Agency to collaborate with other Government departments to (a) prevent and (b) disrupt modern slavery.

The Fair Work Agency will take on the full remit of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).Collaborating with other government bodies will be crucial to the Fair Work Agency effectively enforcing employment rights. We have ensured it will be able to share information with specified bodies where disclosures are relevant to their statutory function.The Government is committed to ensuring the Fair Work Agency has what it needs to do its job. The Bill therefore provides for the transfer of existing staff to ensure we retain the relevant expertise.

What discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on improving childcare provision in Northern Ireland.

This Labour government’s mission is to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child, at every stage across the UK.Earlier this month, the Minister for Early Education and I met with NI Education Minister Givan in Belfast to discuss childcare and areas of shared learning between the two governments.The NI Education Minister recently announced £55m for measures which will include an extension of the Childcare Subsidy Scheme to cover school-age children in Northern Ireland, which I welcome.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase in defence spending on the economy in Wales.

At the Spring Statement, the Chancellor increased the defence budget by £2.2 billion in 2025-26. This will boost the Welsh economy and our thriving defence sector, where the Ministry of Defence is already supporting 7,700 jobs across the length and breadth of the country. Earlier this month, I visited Qioptic and Wagtail in North Wales, just two of the wide range of companies in Wales who play a vital role in defending the UK.

What recent progress he has made with Cabinet colleagues on the green energy transition in Scotland.

I have been working closely with my cabinet colleagues to achieve our clean energy Mission.Scotland has a huge role to play, not least through GB Energy - headquartered in Aberdeen and backed with £8.3bn. It will work to deliver clean energy, lower bills, and bring the jobs of the future to all parts of Scotland.This is on top of the largest ever Contracts for Difference round and the National Wealth Fund, which will mobilise billions into our world-leading clean energy industries.

How many family visas were issued where the sponsoring (a) spouse or partner, (b) fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner, (c) child, (d) parent and (c) relative providing long-term care was resident in Scotland in 2022.

The Home Office publishes data on Family, Work, and Study visas granted in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. However, this information is not broken down by place of residence or UK region.The published statistics can be found in the entry clearance visa data tables.Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of each workbook. The latest data relates to 2024 Q2.

How many grants of UK citizenship were made to people resident in Scotland in 2023.

The Home Office publishes data on Settlement and Citizenship grants in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. However, this information is not broken down by place of residence or UK region.The published statistics can be found in the Settlement data tables and in the Citizenship data tables. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relate to 2024 Q2.

How many study visas were issued to students studying at Scottish universities in 2022.

The Home Office publishes data on Family, Work, and Study visas granted in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. However, this information is not broken down by place of residence or UK region.The published statistics can be found in the entry clearance visa data tables.Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of each workbook. The latest data relates to 2024 Q2.

How many work visas were issued for jobs in Scottish workplaces in 2021.

The Home Office publishes data on Family, Work, and Study visas granted in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. However, this information is not broken down by place of residence or UK region.The published statistics can be found in the entry clearance visa data tables.Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of each workbook. The latest data relates to 2024 Q2.

How many grants of refugee status were made to asylum seekers whose place of residence was Scotland in 2022; and in what type of accommodation they were housed at the time of grant.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on grants at initial decision is published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’. Data on grants of refugee status by location or accommodation type is not published.Data on those in receipt of asylum support by UK region and accommodation type is available in table Asy_D09 of the ‘Asylum seekers in receipt of support detailed dataset’. Location data for those who are not in receipt of support is not published.

How many grants of refugee status were made to asylum seekers whose place of residence was Scotland in 2021; and in what type of accommodation they were housed at the time of grant.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on grants at initial decision is published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’. Data on grants of refugee status by location or accommodation type is not published.Data on those in receipt of asylum support by UK region and accommodation type is available in table Asy_D09 of the ‘Asylum seekers in receipt of support detailed dataset’. Location data for those who are not in receipt of support is not published.

How many grants of refugee status were made to asylum seekers whose place of residence was Scotland in 2023; and in what type of accommodation they were housed at the time of grant.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on grants at initial decision is published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’. Data on grants of refugee status by location or accommodation type is not published.Data on those in receipt of asylum support by UK region and accommodation type is available in table Asy_D09 of the ‘Asylum seekers in receipt of support detailed dataset’. Location data for those who are not in receipt of support is not published.