Increasing the guaranteed support for modern slavery victims benefits everyone, according to a prominent Peer in the House of Lords.

Lord McColl of Dulwich has a private members bill called the Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill which would substantially increase the level of support for modern slavery victims in England and Wales.

At the moment, victims can receive up to 90 days, but Lord McColl believes this is not enough. His Bill is being backed by multiple campaigners, including CARE.

During Oral Questions in the Lords on Monday, 7 October, Lord McColl used his question to remind the Government that a report by the Rights Lab at Nottingham University showed that longer-term support for victims would boost the economy.

According the research, had McColl’s Bill been implemented, it would have benefited the economy by £25million.

Lord McColl’s Bill passed the Lords without any problems and is waiting time for debate in the House of Commons.

There are thought to be as many as 136,000 people in modern slavery in the United Kingdom, far higher than was previously estimated.