To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what her estimate is of the number of women trafficked into the UK for the purpose of sexual exploitation in 2008. (282208)

The latest estimate supplied by Home Office is that at any one time in 2003, there were up to 4,000 women had been trafficked into the UK.

The UK Human Trafficking Centre is undertaking an analysis of the outcomes of Operation Pentameter 2. This analysis, in conjunction with the work based within the regional intelligence units, will inform a more up to date assessment of the extent of trafficking in the UK, which is due by the end of the year.