THE GREAT COTTON STITCH-UP REPORT

Early day motion 1186, tabled 13 December 2010 by Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party). Signed by 43 members.

That this House notes the contents of The Great Cotton Stitch-Up Report from the Fairtrade Foundation which outlines that the EU has given farmers over five billion euros over the last 10 years to grow cotton; recognises that this subsidy denies some of the world's poorest farmers, in Africa, a level playing field for their cotton; is concerned that the European Commission does not appear to be putting cotton trade fairness on the agenda for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform; and calls on the Government to press for an end to trade-distorting cotton subsidies in the negotiations on CAP reform.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Liberal Democrat 15, Conservative 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Alliance 1, Green 1, Scottish National Party 1.