Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with Ministers in other Departments on the value of the Fairtrade scheme to future trade deals; and if she will make a statement.

DFID’s Economic Development Strategy sets out the need for sustainable economic growth and quality jobs in order to reduce poverty. DFID is working closely with other government departments, in particular the Department for International Trade, to ensure that future trade deals work for producers in developing countries as well as the UK national interest. DFID is a longstanding supporter of Fairtrade and is currently supporting the pilot of a supply chain mapping programme known as Fairtrace.