SAINSBURY'S FAIRTRADE POLICY AND DAIRY FARMERS

Early day motion 1208, tabled 23 March 2007 by Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative). Signed by 29 members.

That this House notes the extensive Fairtrade advertising undertaken by Sainsbury's; applauds the retailer's determination to sell fair-trade bananas to safeguard the livelihoods of banana growers in St Lucia and other Caribbean islands; but regrets deeply that Sainsbury's fair-trade policy does not extend to British farmers, most notably dairy farmers; further notes that Sainsbury's pays less to dairy farmers than it costs them to produce milk; is baffled by Sainsbury's thinking whereby it is promoting a tier fair-trade system that does not care for the long term prosperity of the British dairy industry, and the protection of the UK countryside; and calls on Sainsbury's to extend its excellent fair-trade policy to British dairy farmers.

Signatures by party: Conservative 12, Labour 8, Liberal Democrat 6, Plaid Cymru 2, DUP 1.