Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab)

- Hansard -

I rise to present a petition that has been collected by Sacred Heart Catholic voluntary academy, in Mere close in Leicester. A similar petition, with 1,000 signatures, was presented to Downing street this morning. The petition has been organised by Catherine McMillan and Catherine Hayles and the year 6 students, who seized on the idea and pushed it through. I also want to mention the headmaster, Gerry Hirst, and the chairman of governors, Father Lally.

The petition declares:

The Petition of a Citizen of the UK,

Declares that the Petitioner believes that the food system is failing the poorest people and that the government should champion aid for small-scale farmers, especially women, to help them access markets and increase their income, bargaining power and voice in decisions; further that the government should champion checks on the power of global food companies, requiring them to report on the lobbying they do and their impacts on human rights.

The Petitioner therefore requests that the House of Commons does all it can to encourage the Government to take such action.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P001184]