§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the offence of people trafficking contained in Schedule 2, paragraph 3 to the Proceeds of Crime Bill is adequate to combat people trafficking in its various guises. [HL4798]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Filkin)The offence currently specified in Schedule 2, paragraph 3, covers smuggling (facilitation of illegal entry) rather than trafficking. The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill contains a new offence of trafficking for the purposes of controlling someone in prostitution, and we will include this offence in Schedule 2.
We have made clear that we regard this as a stop-gap offence pending the introduction of wider offences of trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation when parliamentary time permits. We will review how the POC provisions should apply to any new offences of people trafficking that are created.
4WA
§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
For each of the last five years, what sum has been recovered by way of confiscation from those prosecuted for involvement in the sexual exploitation of women. [HL4888]
§ Lord FilkinUnder current legislation, the commercial sexual exploitation of women is not a specific legal offence. There are a number of exisiting offences relating to those who profit from the prostitution of others such as running a brothel. Information relating to the sums recovered as a result of confiscations from prosecutions in these cases is not currently centrally collected.
§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What sums of money have been set aside to help victims of trafficking or sexual exploitation. [HL4889]
§ Lord FilkinIn the White PaperSecure Borders, Safe Haven we have set out a comprehensive approach for victims in order to facilitate their giving evidence agianst the traffickers who have brought them here to exploit them. In co-operation with the voluntary sector, we will make arrangements for their protection and in some cases we recognise that it may be appropriate for them to remain here. We will also provide support for those returning to their home countries. This initiative will run on a trial basis for six months in the first place so that we can evaluate its impact. The funding arrangements are under discussion.