§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the policy of her Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in(a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.[142815]
§ Alun MichaelYes. As explained by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 9 December 2002,Official Report, column 92W, the Government are committed to supporting ethical trading wherever possible within the boundaries set by Government's value for money policy and the EC procurement rules.
Defra's policy is to work with the department's catering service providers so that fair trade tea and coffee is available to staff as customers and can be served at official meetings and conferences when appropriate.
To date, Defra and its caterers have arranged for fair trade products to be available at nine of its 11 staff restaurants, including Defra's HQ and a number of regional offices in Guildford, York and Crewe. At each of these sites the teas and coffees served as official hospitality are fair trade products. Efforts to identify potential for serving more fair trade food products are continuing.