Environment Matters |
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UK Government Support for Fairtrade |
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Many of you have discussed the importance of fair trade with me. We have campaigned together to pressure international governments to secure better trade rules that will allow the world’s poorest countries to help grow their economies and reduce poverty. Ahead of Fairtrade Fortnight (25th February – 9th March) I wanted to outline why fair trade is so important and what more we can all do to ‘shop for development’.
Fair trade sales are becoming increasingly popular. Every 2 years for the last eight, UK shoppers have doubled the amount of Fair Trade goods they buy. Fair trade sales in the UK have been growing on average at 40 per cent, per year. The total value of fair trade products sold in the UK in 2006 was £284 million, up from £196 million in 2005, and a growth of over 1,000 per cent since 1998.
This growth is not restricted to the UK: the market for fair trade labelled products has been growing worldwide at 30-40 per cent a year. In 2006 £1.1 billion was spent by consumers on Fair Trade certified products. This is a 42 per cent increase on the previous year and directly benefits over 7 million farmers, workers and their families in developing countries. The areas of particular growth were: cocoa (93%), coffee (53%), tea (41%), bananas (31%) and cotton (doubled in 1 year). Click here for more... |
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2008 will see the government deliver a complete overhaul of the way we judge who can come to Britain and the way we police the system.
There will be an Australian style points system so that only those we need can come to work and study. Sweeping changes to our border protection. A single border force to guard our ports and airports, with new police-like powers. No visas issued without checking fingerprints. New systems to count people in and out. Big changes to prevent illegal immigration. On the spot £10,000 fines for employers who employ illegal immigrants. Compulsory id cards for foreign nationals. Holding newcomers to account for their behaviour. Automatic deportation for serious rule-breakers. Expanded detention estate to lift the numbers we deport. A more compassionate system. Faster asylum decisions and special treatment for children and victims of trafficking. |
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On local environmental quality, laws have been brought into force which empower local authorities to deal with environmental crime such as litter, fly-tipping, fly-posting, noise and abandoned vehicles.
On fuel poverty, an additional £300 million was announced to provide central heating to vulnerable households, a major expansion of our ambitious programme. To help tackle climate change, the government announced plans for a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation – so that by 2010 5% of fuels will come from alternative sources such as biofuels.
No country has done more in recent years to advance international action on Climate Change . The UK’s efforts have been critical to a series of agreements this year.
Elliot was on the UK team that led the EU delegation to the UN meeting in Montreal, where we were instrumental in the successful outcome. The meeting agreed to begin discussions on future targets for Kyoto signatories, and to a global process on the future including the U.S, India and China. |
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Elliot has been fortunate to be involved in many of the ambitious policies at home and internationally that are making a real difference to the quality of life, our environment and progress towards sustainable development. |
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Serving the people of Ashby, Bottesford, Messingham, Holme, Scawby, Hibaldstow, Redbourne, Kirton, Manton, Cadney, Howsham, Scunthorpe. |