HC Deb 27 November 2001 vol 375 cc831-2W
Mr. Weir

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the value of fairly traded(a) tea and (b) coffee used in his Department in each of the last five years. [17558]

Mr. Wills

We do not specify to our catering contractors in contractual terms what supplies must be purchased and contractors are required to provide a service which represents good value for money. We have been able to establish, however, that in the Court Service at least half of the catering contractors supply fairly traded tea and coffee although this is not always branded as such. We are unable to quantify the value.

Mr. Weir

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what fairly traded products, other than tea and coffee, have been purchased by his Department in each of the last five years; and what was their value. [17559]

Mr. Wills

It has not been possible to identify the purchase of any fairly traded products, other than tea or coffee, either directly or indirectly through our third party suppliers, in the last five years. However, in accordance with the policy across Government, we will take every opportunity to encourage the use of Fair Trade products through our procurement activities and in particular during the course of the review of the arrangements for contracted catering services in the Court Service that is planned to take place during the next 12 months.

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