Written question asked by Barry Sheerman (Labour) on Friday, 12 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 March 2004. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Monday, 22 March 2004 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps she is taking to encourage more companies to participate in fair trade practices. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to encourage more companies to participate in fair trade practices. [162083] Ms Hewitt: The Government has worked hard to encourage companies to participate in fair trade practices. The Government, through DFID, has provided £0.5 million in support for UK development awareness and education campaigns centred around fair trade over the past two years. This includes £120,000 to the media campaigns of the Fairtrade Foundation to raise both business and consumer awareness of how fair trade benefits poor producers and to increase the exposure of products carrying the Fairtrade mark. Government support for fair trade is part of a wider programme designed to mainstream social responsible business practices in the corporate sector. The Government, through DfID, funds the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI); £1.3 million over the last three years. The ETI, an alliance of Trade Unions, NGOs and private companies, seeks to promote good practices in the implementation of labour related codes of conduct throughout the supply chain.

Secondary information