HM Government

This afternoon the Prime Minister chaired a meeting of senior executives from the UK and European automotive sector at Downing Street.

At the meeting the Prime Minister highlighted the success of the UK’s sector, noting that we are the third largest producer in Europe and the most productive of its big car manufacturers.

The opportunities presented by the transition to low-emission vehicles, the internet of things and wider developments in manufacturing technologies were discussed, and the role of the Industrial Strategy in making sure the UK is at the forefront of these developments was pressed.

Brexit, the challenges it presents and the priorities for industry were also discussed. The business representatives highlighted the importance of quick and seamless access to international suppliers as well being able to access the talent they need.

The Prime Minister and the Business Secretary reiterated the government’s aim for an ambitious economic partnership with the EU, as well as an implementation period that ensures businesses only have to adapt to one set of changes. The also agreed the need for continued engagement with the sector.

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The government has launched a new compliance scheme for social care providers that may have incorrectly paid workers below legal minimum wage hourly rates for sleep-in shifts.

Social care employers will be able to opt into the new Social Care Compliance Scheme (SCCS), giving them up to a year to identify what they owe to workers, supported by advice from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Employers who identify arrears at the end of the self-review period will have up to three months to pay workers.

The government is committed to creating an economy that works for everyone, and ensuring workers are paid fairly according to the law. The scheme has been designed to help ensure workers are paid what they are owed, while also maintaining important services for people who access social care.

HMRC will write to social care employers who currently have a complaint against them for allegedly underpaying minimum wage rates for sleep-in shifts to encourage them to sign up to the scheme. Employers that choose not to opt into the scheme will be subject to HMRC’s normal enforcement approach.

The government is exploring options to minimise any impact on the sector. The government has opened discussions with the European Commission to determine whether any support, if deemed necessary, would be subject to EU state aid rules.

Earlier this year the government waived further penalties for sleep-in shifts underpayment arising before 26 July 2017. This was in response to concerns over the combined impact which financial penalties and arrears of wages could have on the stability and long-term viability of social care providers. Enforcement action for sleep-in shifts in the social care sector was temporarily suspended between 26 July and 1 November 2017.

Government reiterated again today its expectation that all employers pay their workers according to the law, including for sleep-in shifts, as set out in guidance entitled Calculating the minimum wage.

Read the updated on guidance sleep-in shifts here: National minimum wage law: enforcement.

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A Downing Street spokesperson said:

This afternoon the Prime Minister spoke to President Trump to express her condolences regarding yesterday’s terror attack in New York. The Prime Minister said she was deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of life and that her thoughts and prayers remain with all those affected. She reiterated that the UK will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States in defeating the evil of terrorism. The two leaders noted the very strong intelligence and security co-operation between our two countries.

The Prime Minister and President Trump also discussed the need for an international approach to tackling poisonous terrorist ideology online.

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• Specialist training for 1,000 foster carers and support workers to improve their skills and confidence in caring for unaccompanied child migrants;
• Updated guidance for councils on caring for unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery;
• Research to be commissioned on the effectiveness of existing support for unaccompanied children and families reunited under the Dublin Regulation and whether more help is needed.

New training for foster carers who support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children is part of a new safeguarding strategy announced today.

The training, which will be made available to 1,000 foster carers and support workers, is backed by updated statutory guidance, a review of local authority funding and a drive to improve inter-agency advice and information sharing. It complements the guidance already available to every foster carer as part of their duties under the government’s Prevent strategy.

These measures are part of a wider government strategy to improve support for councils as they care for these children, and delivers on a commitment made last year as part of the Children and Social Work Act. Other measures in the strategy will help prevent children from going missing and support those who are reunited with family members.

Robert Goodwill, Minister for Children and Families, said:

Child refugees are some of the most vulnerable in our country, and it’s vital that we support them as they build safer lives, often in the care of new families.

Foster carers do an incredible job, but they must have tailored support to help them deal with the complex needs of these children. That’s why we are funding this specialist training, to help them give the best possible support to the children in their care.

New research will also be carried out on the effectiveness of existing support for unaccompanied children and families reunited under the Dublin Regulation and whether more help is needed.

Places on the new training courses will be allocated to each local authority area based on the numbers they have under the National Transfer Scheme.

Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis said:

The UK has a proud history of protecting those in need and this strategy is just one way we are ensuring unaccompanied asylum seeking children with a right to be in the UK are supported.

Last year almost 3,000 unaccompanied children claimed asylum in the UK and they all require ongoing care and protection. This strategy will increase the information and support available to the local authorities who play a crucial role in looking after them.

The government’s new training for foster carers and support workers will be backed by new funding worth £200,000, between 2017 and 2019. An additional £60,000 investment will provide a package of revised guidance, information and resources.

This includes best practice guides for social workers, a review of first encounter standards for the police, and comprehensive information for asylum seeking and refugee children to make sure they understand their rights and entitlements.

Lily Caprani, Deputy Executive Director of Unicef UK, said:

The Government’s new safeguarding strategy and revised statutory guidance are positive steps forward for unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children. Unaccompanied children in the UK are a particularly vulnerable group, with very specific needs that require a coordinated response prioritising children’s rights and best interests.

We welcome the holistic approach set out in the new safeguarding strategy, including improved training and support for social workers, increased educational support, and a better process for children with a right to have their asylum claim transferred to allow them to be with family in the UK.

Judith Dennis, Policy Manager at the Refugee Council, said:

We very much welcome the publication of this strategy and the work that has been done by both departments to make it happen.

We are particularly pleased to see commitments to ensure foster carers and social workers understand the asylum process and are better able to meet the specific needs of children alone in the asylum system. We look forward to the actions promised in this strategy becoming a reality.

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Minutes from regular meetings we hold with representative groups involved in legal aid work are now being published on GOV.UK. These are the forums: Civil Contracts Consultative Group Crime Contracts Consultative Group These meetings provide a regular… read more