Written questions by Murray.

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 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.

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 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.

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 2023.

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 indefinite leave to remain were made to people in the UK on other visa routes whose place of residence was Scotland at the time of grant in 2022; and on what visa statuses they were at the time of grant.

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 grants of indefinite leave to remain were made to people in the UK on other visa routes whose place of residence was Scotland at the time of grant in 2021; and on what visa statuses they were at the time of grant.

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 work visas were issued for jobs in Scottish workplaces 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 2022.

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 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.

How many work visas were issued for jobs in Scottish workplaces in 2023.

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 study visas were issued to students studying at Scottish universities in 2023.

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 study visas were issued to students studying at Scottish universities 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.