Tom Gordon

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1. 29 Oct 2026·Parliament·Tom Gordon

   Immigration and Asylum Bill (Fourteenth sitting)

   I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. Duty to notify reports were introduced in 2025 for people who would not consent to entering the national referral mechanism. The regulator says that their number is undercounted. The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner found that the main reason people would not consent was fear of immigration consequences. Some 25% of victims believed that they were better off in exploitation. The new clause would tackle some of those issues. GRETA—the group of experts on action against trafficking in human beings—published its fourth report in May 2026. It said: “Due to fear of detention and deportation, many victims of trafficking do not want to be referred to the NRM.” That is the reason for the new clause. If the Government are not willing to support it, I would be grateful to hear from the Minister what further measures she might bring forward to address those issues.

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2. 29 Oct 2026·Parliament·Tom Gordon

   Immigration and Asylum Bill (Fourteenth sitting)

   I hear and understand the Minister’s points. I am happy to withdraw the new clause, but I would like to press her a little further. I thought the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner gave some of the most compelling evidence we heard about these issues and people’s concerns about protections for victims of trafficking. Regrettably, when we debated these matters earlier in proceedings, particularly in relation to clause 36, we heard the same concerns about people coming forward and having reporting and disclosures used against them. How that information might be passed along is still a legitimate and valid concern. I gently ask the Minister to consider strengthening those protections in the other place. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. <em>Clause, by leave, withdrawn.</em> New Clause 16 Duty to publish deadline for final implementation of White Paper reforms “(1) Within 30 days of the passing of this Act, the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a statement setting out a final deadline and operational roadmap for the full implementation of the reforms outlined in the White Paper titled Restoring Control over the Immigration System (CP 1326). (2) The statement laid under subsection (1) must specify— (a) the final date by which all primary and secondary legislation required to give effect to the proposals included in the White Paper will be introduced or laid before Parliament; (b) a schedule for any remaining public consultations or reviews by independent advisory bodies;<span id="506" class="column-number" data-column-number="506"></span> (c) the date by which revised Immigration Rules governing settlement, work routes, and enforcement mechanisms will come into full legal effect. (3) If the Secretary of State fails to meet any deadline set out in the statement laid under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a report within 14 days of the missed deadline including— (a) the reasons for the delay, and (b) a revised deadline, which may not exceed 90 days from the original published deadline.”—<em>(Tom Gordon.)</em> <em>This new clause would require the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament a roadmap and deadline for the full implementation of all statutory changes, rules, and secondary legislation proposed in the “Restoring Order and Control” White Paper.</em> <em>Brought up, and read the First </em><em>time</em><em>.</em>

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3. 29 Oct 2026·Parliament·Tom Gordon

   Immigration and Asylum Bill (Fourteenth sitting)

   I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. I would very much like to hear from the Minister further certainty on what the rules will be. The intention of the new clause is to require the Secretary of State to set out a final deadline and a road map for the implementation of the “Restoring control over the immigration system” White Paper. We also want to see a report within 14 days of any missed deadlines. To be clear, that White Paper on the legal migration system is really important. It matters because we expect refugees to move from core protection on to other routes such as work visas. There is a wider point here about the uncertainty—beyond asylum, too—with those proposed changes to settlement, which would require businesses to adapt their workforce planning. Business also deserve certainty about what those rules might mean. I look forward to hearing further clarification from the Minister.

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4. 29 Oct 2026·Parliament·Tom Gordon

   Immigration and Asylum Bill (Fourteenth sitting)

   It is welcome to hear that the spirit of the new clause is honoured and that the Conservative spokesperson has sympathy with it—I did not expect such praise for our fantastic work on this Committee. I appreciate the Minister’s outlining some of the steps. I am sure we will continue to have the conversation about when we shall hear that further timeline and when it might be announced. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. <em>Clause, by leave, withdrawn.</em>

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5. 29 Oct 2026·Parliament·Tom Gordon

   Immigration and Asylum Bill (Fourteenth sitting)

   I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. New clause 19 would create a new humanitarian travel permit that would see free entry clearance for people with a protection claim with a realistic prospect of success treated as a protection claim on arrival. The Liberal Democrats want to see the creation of a new humanitarian travel permit that would allow asylum seekers to travel to the UK safely to proceed with their claims. The reason for tabling this new clause is to establish from the Minister that the purpose of the new safe routes that have been announced and the UK resettlement scheme, which reopened in September 2026, is to prioritise vulnerable refugees. One in four referrals designated through that are Afghan women and girls fleeing the Taliban and Palestinian refugees from Gaza. If there is no need for this new clause, what are those existing routes going to do? What capacity will they have? How are they going to proceed? When should we expect to hear more on them? What proportion of refugees are expected to be of each nationality? Are the figures I just mentioned roughly correct estimates? What work has been done with in-country partners? Should she satisfy all those questions, I might be minded not to press the point.

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6. 29 Oct 2026·Parliament·Tom Gordon

   Immigration and Asylum Bill (Fourteenth sitting)

   I thank the Minister for providing some more clarity. Again we look forward, with bated breath, to further announcements as and when they come, and again I press her to expedite that as much as she can. I will push back a little. One thing that I have been really proud to see, when there are humanitarian disasters such as war and famine, is that the UK is open and tolerant and wants to have a fair and safe system. Under the last Government, we saw some of the safe and legal routes in third party countries closed down, which has facilitated the need for people to come by small boat or enabled people to be exploited by such routes. I again press the Minister to convey to her colleagues in the other place the need to look at what more we can do for the legitimate people who are fleeing war, famine and other horrendous situations, such as crimes of genocide or war crimes. We need to look at how we ensure that we do not, because of an arbitrary cap, stop those people who might not have any other connections, countries or routes available to them. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. <em>Clause, by leave, withdrawn.</em> New Clause 20 Resourcing for law enforcement agencies “(1) The Secretary of State must take steps to ensure that law enforcement agencies have sufficient resources to undertake their duties in relation to the prevention of modern slavery and human trafficking. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the duties of law enforcement agencies include— (a) any duties under this Act or the Modern Slavery Act 2015; (b) the conducting of surveillance on and detection of networks involved in modern slavery and human trafficking; (c) participation in Europol’s anti-trafficking operations. (3) For the purposes of this section, ‘law enforcement agencies’ include— (a) the National Crime Agency, (b) police forces in England and Wales, and (c) the British Transport Police.”—<em>(Tom Gordon.)</em> <em>This new clause would require the Secretary of State to ensure that law enforcement agencies have sufficient resources to undertake their duties in relation to the prevention of modern slavery and human trafficking, including by participating in Europol’s anti-trafficking operations.</em> <em>Brought up, and read the First time.</em>

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7. 29 Oct 2026·Parliament·Tom Gordon

   Immigration and Asylum Bill (Fourteenth sitting)

   I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. New clause 20 would ensure that the NCA, police forces and the British Transport police had resources for modern slavery duties, including Europol anti-trafficking operations. It would ensure that there was funding for the existing enforcement architecture to work. The Bill gives police new orders in clauses 25 to 34, but the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner told the Committee that there is no “dedicated funding” for police modern slavery teams and that the current strategy<span id="518" class="column-number" data-column-number="518"></span> “is over 10 years out of date.”<span id="vol_col7" class="cross-reference" data-house-id="1" data-column-number="7" data-volume-number="" data-external-id="650A5AC6-F1B0-4C5D-A619-87AE76802E9E"><em>––</em>[<em>Official Report, Immigration and Asylum Public Bill Committee, </em>15 September 2026; c. 7, Q6.]</span> I invite the Minister to reflect on that and talk about how to ensure, with the obligations in the Bill, that we can better tackle the gangs that have facilitated some of these horrendous crimes and make sure that people who have been brought here have the resources from the Government to help them in those instances.

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8. 29 Oct 2026·Parliament·Tom Gordon

   Immigration and Asylum Bill (Fourteenth sitting)

   We had the Budget yesterday. Having quickly skimmed through those documents, there was little in the way of additional resources for the agencies listed. One of my concerns is that, while the Chancellor announced the devolution of further funding to mayoral areas, obviously not every area of the country will be impacted equally by gangs coming here in small boats. If that funding and those powers are passed locally, what further support will the Minister give from central Government to make sure that we do not end up with a patchwork across the south coast?

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9. 29 Oct 2026·Parliament·Tom Gordon

   Immigration and Asylum Bill (Fourteenth sitting)

   I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. <em>Clause, by leave, withdrawn.</em><span id="520" class="column-number" data-column-number="520"></span> New Clause 21 Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings “The Secretary of State must— (a) within six months of the passing of this Act, introduce legislation to ensure the United Kingdom’s full compliance with the 2009 Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings; and (b) within eighteen months of the passing of this Act, lay before Parliament a report on how the Government is ensuring full compliance with the Convention under this section.”—<em>(Tom Gordon.)</em> <em>This new clause would require the Secretary of State to introduce legislation which ensure that the UK is compliant with the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, and subsequently report on the UK’s compliance with the Convention.</em> <em>Brought up, and read the First time.</em>

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10. 29 Oct 2026·Parliament·Tom Gordon

    Immigration and Asylum Bill (Fourteenth sitting)

    I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. The new clause would require the Secretary of State to introduce legislation that would ensure that the UK is compliant with the Council of Europe convention on action against trafficking in human beings, and subsequently report on the UK’s compliance with the convention. I hope that is not overly contentious, given that we should seek to maintain our compliance with organisations such as the Council of Europe. The UK ratified ECAT in December 2008 and it came into force in 2009. It was the first treaty to put survivor protection at its centre, with binding standards on identification, support, recovery and prosecution. It has never been fully incorporated into primary legislation, so protections can be narrowed administratively without proper scrutiny, which concerns us. Compliance is monitored by the group of experts on action against trafficking in human beings, whose fourth report to the UK found that referrals under the national referral mechanism rose from 12,687 in 2021 to 17,000 in the first nine months of 2025. The group commended faster identification and stronger enforcement, but found ongoing gaps in victim protection and legal support. This is about not just foreign nationals but British people, the most common nationality referred. Labour exploitation was found to be the main reason for referral, while for children it was criminal exploitation, notably county lines, so the new clause would have a wider purpose. I have previously made the point to the Minister that if we are not compliant with the convention, it will open us up to legal challenges down the line, which we would not want the Bill to do, for the sake of the country. I invite the Minister to comment on that and look forward to hearing what she has to say.

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