Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fair Trade

Thursday 31 October 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The United Kingdom is committed to advancing both free and fair trade around the world, focusing on inclusivity, sustainability, and poverty reduction.
  • The UK's Trade Centre of Expertise aims to build capacity for producers in developing countries to participate and prosper in global trade.
  • The Minister has met a representative of the Fair Trade Foundation recently.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sam Rushworth Lab Bishop Auckland
Business & Trade
Context

The question stems from concerns about fair trade practices and their impact on producers in developing countries, specifically addressing the need for support to ensure these producers benefit from international trade.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support fair trade for producers. The concern arises from the desire to ensure that fair trade policies are effective and equitable, particularly benefiting those in developing nations who produce goods traded globally.

Answer from Douglas Alexander

The United Kingdom is committed to advancing both free and fair trade around the world, focusing on inclusivity, sustainability, and poverty reduction. Aid-for-trade programmes like the new Trade Centre of Expertise aim to build capacity for producers in developing countries to participate and prosper from global trade.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner sought specific steps being taken with Cabinet colleagues but received a general commitment without details on actions or timelines.

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Q2 Sam Rushworth Lab Bishop Auckland
Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from a fair trade week at Timothy Hackworth primary school in Shildon, where children wrote to the MP asking him to raise concerns about fair trade with the Minister. The students are interested in whether the Minister has met representatives of the Fair Trade Foundation and if British leadership can contribute to reducing poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.

Question

Children from Timothy Hackworth primary school in Shildon asked me to raise fair trade with the Minister as part of their fair trade week, noting the privilege we have to serve here. They want to know if the Minister has met representatives of the Fair Trade Foundation since his appointment and whether Britain's leadership on fair trade policies can reduce poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.

Answer from Douglas Alexander

I have met a representative of the Fair Trade Foundation recently. The Co-op, as the UK's largest seller of fair trade products, plays a crucial role by helping thousands of farmers producing goods like tea, coffee, sugar, and flowers through cooperatives in high streets across the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked if the Minister has met representatives of the Fair Trade Foundation since his appointment and about Britain's leadership on fair trade policies reducing poverty. The answer acknowledged a meeting but did not provide specific details or an assessment of impact on sub-Saharan Africa.

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