§ 11. Ms WardTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in promoting the purchase of fair trade goods by Departments and other public bodies. [95590]
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§ Mr. FoulkesMy Department takes every opportunity to promote fair trade products and also to support ethical trading in mainstream business. As my hon. Friend knows, fair trade tea and coffee are available in all the Department for International Development (DFID) outlets and in the House of Commons. I understand that a number of Departments have considered stocking fair trade products.
§ 16. Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress there has been among UK manufacturers in adopting a fair trade approach to the purchase of agricultural commodities from developing countries; and if she will make a statement. [95595]
§ Clare ShortA growing number of products have obtained the FairTrade Mark from the Fairtrade Foundation. Seventy-five such products (covering coffee, tea, cocoa and honey) are now available, compared to 50 a year ago. The FairTrade Mark tends to be applied for more by alternative trading organisations than large UK manufacturers.
Companies can also trade in a way which has a positive impact on the livelihoods of the poor but does not meet the requirements for certification through the FairTrade Foundation. For example, companies can work with the Ethical Trading Initiative, which concentrates on codes of conduct for responsible business. The Ethical Trading Initiative now has fifteen members; one of the most recent is the Tea Sourcing Partnership, whose members represent 60 per cent. of tea packed in the UK.