Fair Trade Products

HC Deb 06 May 1999 vol 330 cc428-9W

Ms Ward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce fair trade products at(a) meetings, (b) events and (c) catering facilities within his Department. [82870]

Mr. Meale

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary on 5 May 1999,Official Report, column 410.

My Department's policy is to keep the matter under review and to ask caterers to set out their policy and charges for the use of fair trade products. It is then for local managers to decide on the scope to use fair trade products, having regard to value for money. Fair trade products have recently been introduced in vending machines in our London Headquarters buildings.