Oral Answers to Questions

Fiona Bruce Excerpts

Thursday 12th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)]

T3. What steps are the Government taking to help farmers and rural businesses in Cheshire to boost their productivity?

[The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (George Eustice)]

My hon. Friend raises a very important point. Earlier this year, we invited calls to a small grants scheme to promote farm productivity. It was over-subscribed, so we have put in an additional £7 million, making a total of £23 million. We intend to have additional calls later this year.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

It might be thought to be a helpful prompt if I advise the hon. Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce) that inter-faith dialogue can embrace the subject of the evils of modern-day slavery, in which I know she has an intense interest.

[Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)]

I was very pleased to hear my right hon. Friend’s response to the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Michael Tomlinson). Does she agree that trafficking women into prostitution is a most heinous form of violence against women and girls and that, if we are to review the law on prostitution, a priority must be to improve exit strategies for these exploited women?

[Mr Speaker]

And one would assume that it was a matter that fell within the rubric of inter-faith dialogue.