§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 November 2001,Official Report, column 970W, on fair trade goods, if he will review and increase the amount of fairly traded goods purchased by her Department during Fair Trade Fortnight. [35922]
§ Angela EagleWe fully support ethical trading in mainstream business and fair trade products will be purchased where they meet the criteria on Procurement of Goods and Services.
The Home Department will be raising awareness of fair trade products through:
publishing an article in the department's purchasing periodical "Purchasing Matters";holding a purchasing symposium on fair trade on 15 April 2002.
§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home 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. [17563]
§ Angela EagleThe Home Department is not aware of any other fairly traded products purchased in the past five years. The department fully supports ethical trading in mainstream business and Fair Trade products will be purchased where they meet the criteria of value for money principles, which includes quality, fitness for purpose and delivery against price.
The Home Office will be publishing an article on fair trade in the next edition of "Purchasing Matters", an internal periodical for all procurement staff which will help raise awareness of fair trade products. In addition the Home Office will be holding a purchasing 1061W symposium on the issue of Fair Trade in April 2002. I hope these measures will enable greater purchasing of fair trade products.