House of Commons Public Bill Committee Proceedings

Session 2014 - 15
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

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(c)
section 71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (slavery, servitude and

forced or compulsory labour).”

Secretary Theresa May

Added  NC10

To move the following Clause—

“Hot pursuit of ships in United Kingdom waters

(1)
An English and Welsh constable or an enforcement officer may exercise Part 1

powers in relation to a ship in Scotland waters or in Northern Ireland waters if—

(a)
the ship is pursued there,

(b)
immediately before the pursuit of the ship, the ship was in relevant

waters, and

(c)
the condition in subsection (10) is met.

(2)
Part 1 powers may be exercised under subsection (1) only—

(a)
for the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(a) of section 13, and

(b)
(if relevant) in accordance with subsections (5) to (7) of that section.

(3)
For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), “relevant waters” are—

(a)
in the case of a United Kingdom ship or a ship without nationality,

England and Wales waters or international waters;

(b)
in the case of a foreign ship or a ship registered under the law of a relevant

territory, England and Wales waters.

(4)
A Scottish constable or an enforcement officer may exercise Part 2 powers in

relation to a ship in England and Wales waters or in Northern Ireland waters if—

(a)
the ship is pursued there,

(b)
immediately before the pursuit of the ship, the ship was in relevant

waters, and

(c)
the condition in subsection (10) is met.

(5)
Part 2 powers may be exercised under subsection (4) only—

(a)
for the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(a) of section (Enforcement

powers in relation to ships: Scotland), and

(b)
(if relevant) in accordance with subsections (5) to (7) of that section.

(6)
For the purposes of subsection (4)(b), “relevant waters” are—

(a)
in the case of a United Kingdom ship or a ship without nationality,

Scotland waters or international waters;

(b)
in the case of a foreign ship or a ship registered under the law of a relevant

territory, Scotland waters.

(7)
A Northern Ireland constable or an enforcement officer may exercise Part 3

powers in relation to a ship in England and Wales waters or in Scotland waters

if—

(a)
the ship is pursued there,

(b)
immediately before the pursuit of the ship, the ship was in relevant

waters, and

(c)
the condition in subsection (10) is met.

(8)
Part 3 powers may be exercised under subsection (7) only—

(a)
for the purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(a) of section (Enforcement

powers in relation to ships: Northern Ireland), and

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(b)
(if relevant) in accordance with subsections (6) to (8) of that section.

(9)
For the purposes of subsection (7)(b), “relevant waters” are—

(a)
in the case of a United Kingdom ship or a ship without nationality,

Northern Ireland waters or international waters;

(b)
in the case of a foreign ship or a ship registered under the law of a relevant

territory, Northern Ireland waters.

(10)
The condition referred to in subsection (1)(c), (4)(c) and (7)(c) is that—

(a)
before the pursuit of the ship, a signal is given for it to stop, and

(b)
the pursuit of the ship is not interrupted.

(11)
The signal referred to in subsection (10)(a) must be given in such a way as to be

audible or visible from the ship.

(12)
For the purposes of subsection (10)(b), pursuit is not interrupted by reason only

of the fact that—

(a)
the method of carrying out the pursuit, or

(b)
the identity of the ship or aircraft carrying out the pursuit,


changes during the course of the pursuit.

(13)
Nothing in this Part affects any right of hot pursuit that a constable or an

enforcement officer may have under international law.”

Mark Durkan

Not called  NC12

To move the following Clause—

“Establishment of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner

(1)
There is to be an offence of Anti-slavery Commissioner (in this section “the

Commissioner”).

(2)
The Commissioner shall be appointed by the Secretary of State, following a pre-

appointment hearing by Parliament of the candidate proposed by the Secretary of

State.

(3)
The Commissioner may appoint his own staff.”

Mark Durkan

Not called  NC13

To move the following Clause—

“General function and powers of the Independent Commissioner

(1)
The Commissioner shall—

(a)
monitor trafficking, slavery, exploitation, servitude, and forced or

compulsory labour, the fulfilment of international obligations and the

effectiveness of national legislation and policy;

(b)
issue proposals, recommendations, statements, opinions and advice

relevant to the fight against trafficking, slavery, exploitation, servitude,

forced or compulsory labour and to the realisation of the rights of

victims;

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(c)
engage with international organisations on trafficking, slavery,

exploitation, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, child protection,

and other relevant issues;

(d)
report annually, to both Houses of Parliament on trafficking, slavery,

exploitation, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and related issues;

(e)
periodically review the offences and related policy of trafficking and

slavery to ensure that they reflect the UK’s obligations under the

Trafficking Convention and Trafficking Directive and other international

instruments and consistently applied to all trafficked, enslaved or

exploited persons;

(f)
periodically review public authorities’ compliance with their duties

under international and national legislation and policy in relation to

trafficking, slavery, exploitation, servitude and forced and compulsory

labour; and

(g)
provide an impact assessment on the trafficking, slavery, exploitation,

servitude, and forced or compulsory labour implications for government

trade deals and trade and aid policy.

(2)
The Commissioner is responsible for reviewing the practical implementation of

the non-prosecution and non-punishment of trafficked, enslaved and/or exploited

persons, and in doing so must have particular regard to women and children.

(3)
The Commissioner shall, specifically in respect of victims—

(a)
encourage persons exercising functions or engaged in activities affecting

trafficked, enslaved or exploited persons to take account of the views and

interests of victims;

(b)
consult with and advise the Government on the views and interests of

trafficked, enslaved or exploited persons;

(c)
consider the operation of complaints procedures relating to trafficked,

enslaved or exploited persons;

(d)
consider any other matters relating to the services for, and interests and

outcomes of trafficked, enslaved or exploited persons;

(e)
be responsible for reviewing the practical implementation of the

provision in this Bill for the non-prosecution of and non-application of

penalties to trafficked, enslaved or exploited persons and victims of

forced or compulsory labour, and in doing so must have particular regard

to women and children; and

(f)
publish a report on any matter in connection with trafficking, slavery,

exploitation, servitude, and forced or compulsory labour considered by

the Commissioner, which may include recommendations.

(4)
The Commissioner must take reasonable steps to involve trafficked, enslaved

and/or exploited persons in the discharge of his/her function under this section,

and in particular to—

(a)
ensure that trafficked, enslaved or exploited persons are made aware of

the Commissioner’s function and how they may communicate with the

Commissioner; and

(b)
consult trafficked, enslaved or exploited persons, and organisations

working with them on the matters the Commission proposes to consider.

(5)
The Commissioner is not obliged under this section to conduct an investigation

of the case of an individual trafficked, enslaved or exploited person. The

Commissioner may, however—

(a)
investigate a particular case and/or intervene as a third party in a

particular case where the case raises issues of public policy of relevance

to other trafficked, enslaved or exploited persons; or

(b)
investigate any decision or recommendation made, or any act done or

omitted, in respect of any trafficked, enslaved or exploited person.

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(6)
All public authorities must supply the Commissioner with such information in

that person’s possession or control relating to those functions as the

Commissioner may reasonably request for the purposes of his function under this

section (provided that the information is information which that person may,

apart from this section (6), lawfully disclose to the Commissioner).

(7)
Where the Commissioner has published a report under this section containing

recommendations in respect of any person exercising functions under any

enactment, he may require that person to state in writing, within such period as

the Commissioner may reasonably require, what action the person has taken or

proposes to take in response to the recommendations.

(8)
The Secretary of State must not take steps or impose measures that may impair,

or may appear to impair, the Commissioner’s independence and shall ensure that

the Commissioner is, to the extent the Commissioner is able, to determine,

without limitation (other than as prescribed in this Bill)—

(a)
the Commissioner’s activities;

(b)
the Commissioner’s timetables;

(c)
the Commissioner’s priorities; and

(d)
the Commissioner’s resources and funding.”

Mark Durkan

Not called  NC14

To move the following Clause—

“Ban on importation of goods produced by slavery or forced labour

(1)
The Secretary of State shall have the power to prohibit the import at any point of

entry to the United Kingdom of any good, ware, article, or product mined,

produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in any foreign country that can be

demonstrably shown to have been produced by slavery, forced labour, child

labour or with the involvement of human trafficking.

(2)
The Secretary of State shall—

(a)
prescribe such regulations as may be necessary for the enforcement of

this provision;

(b)
co-ordinate with and issue guidance to the Treasury, HMRC, devolved

authorities and any other relevant public authority in relation to the

exercise by them of their powers and responsibilities under this Clause;

and

(c)
have a duty to publish and maintain information on banned goods

including a publicly available list of products which there is a reasonable

basis to believe might have been mined, produced, or manufactured in the

circumstances described in section (1).

(3)
The Secretary of State shall establish a process whereby a petition can be made

by any person, public authority or organisation who has reason to believe that

goods produced in the circumstances in section (1) are being or are likely to be

imported into the UK to communicate theses concerns to the relevant authority.

Every such communication shall contain—

(a)
a full statement of reasons for the claim;

(b)
a detailed description or example of the product; and

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(c)
all relevant information regarding the production of the good.”

Stephen Barclay

Mr Frank Field

Sir John Randall

Not called  NC20

To move the following Clause—

“Control of assets related to modern slavery offences

(1)
In section 40 (Restraint orders) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 after

subsection (9) insert—

“(10)
In the case of an investigation or prosecution under the Modern Slavery

Act the court shall presume that the alleged offender will dissipate his

assets unless restrained.”

(2)
The Secretary of State shall within six months of this Act coming into force bring

forward regulations to—

(a)
presume a freezing order will be granted within 24 hours in respect of

assets where the court is satisfied that—

(i)
there are reasonable grounds to suspect that some of those assets

have been obtained as a result of an offence under this Act, and

(ii)
those assets are over and above those reasonably required for

living and business expenses.

(b)
confer on the police power to issue a notice on financial advisers and

institutions placing a duty of care on those institutions in respect of

movement of assets that might hinder an investigation into an offence

under this Act.

(3)
The Chancellor of the Exchequer shall within six months of this Act coming into

force bring forward regulations to provide that assets recovered in respect of an

offence under this Act shall be paid to one or more of—

(a)
the police and/or,

(b)
the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, and

(c)
the victim or victims of the offence.

(4)
The court will require an asset declaration from anyone subject to a restraint order

within 24 hours in respect of any financial interests in assets held in whole or in

part in the United Kingdom and in overseas territories. In the event of a false

declaration, this will be treated as an aggregated factor in the setting of any future

penalty.

(5)
Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument and shall not

be made unless laid before in draft and approved by both Houses of Parliament.”

Paul Blomfield

Not called  NC21

To move the following Clause—

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, continued

“Civil remedy

(1)
An individual who is a victim of an offence under section 1, 2 or 4 may bring a

civil action against the perpetrator in the County Court and may recover damages

and reasonable legal costs.

(2)
For the purposes of subsection (1) “damages” shall include the greater of the

gross income or value to the defendant of the victim’s services or labour or the

value of the victim’s labour as guaranteed under the national minimum wage

guarantees of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998.”

Mr David Burrowes

Fiona Bruce

Mark Durkan

Not called  132

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  12,  at end insert—

‘(c)
the person exploits another person within the meaning of section 3(4), (5)

or (6) of this Act and the circumstances are such that the person knows or

ought to know that the other person is being exploited.”

Mr David Burrowes

Fiona Bruce

Not called  135

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  12,  at end insert—

‘(1A)
For the purposes of this Act—

(a)
it is irrelevant whether a child consents to being held in slavery or

servitude; and

(b)
a child may be in a condition of slavery, servitude or forced or

compulsory labour whether or not—

(i)
escape from the condition is practically possible; or

(ii)
the child has attempted to escape from the condition.”

Mr David Burrowes

Fiona Bruce

Mark Durkan

Not called  136

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  12,  at end insert—

‘(1A)
For the purposes of this Act—

(a)
it is irrelevant whether a person consents to being held in slavery or

servitude; and

(b)
a person may be in a condition of slavery, servitude or forced or

compulsory labour whether or not—

(i)
escape from the condition is practically possible; or

(ii)
the person has attempted to escape from the condition.”

Mr David Burrowes

Fiona Bruce

Not called  133

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  17,  after “labour”, insert “or is being exploited”

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, continued

Mark Durkan

Stephen Barclay

Sir John Randall

Not called  143

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  3,  at end add—

“(5)
The consent or apparent consent of a person to the acts referred to in subsections

1(1)(a) or 1(1)(b) shall be irrelevant.”

Paul Blomfield

Not called  152

Page  2,  line  4,  leave out Clause 2.

Mr David Burrowes

Fiona Bruce

Mark Durkan

Not called  134

Clause  3,  page  2,  line  30,  at end insert—

‘(1A)
For the purposes of section (1) a person is exploited only if one or more of

subsections (4), (5) or (6) of this section apply in relation to the person.”

Mr Frank Field

Stephen Barclay

Not called  151

Clause  7,  page  4,  line  30,  at end insert—


“Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

In section 69, subsection (2) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, after “debt

owned by the Crown”, insert—

“(e)
in the case of an investigation or prosecution under the Modern Slavery

Act the court must presume that the alleged offender will dissipate his

assets unless restrained.””

Secretary Theresa May

Agreed to  2

Clause  13,  page  9,  line  20,  at beginning insert “An English and Welsh constable

or”

Secretary Theresa May

Agreed to  3

Clause  13,  page  9,  line  20,  leave out “Schedule 1” and insert “Part 1 of Schedule 1



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