LOCAL MP CHAMPIONS FAIRTRADE SCHOOLS IN HEREFORDSHIRE

12.00.00am GMT Tue 19th Feb 2008

Paul Keetch, MP for Hereford, has today urged all local schools to sign up to the Fairtrade Schools scheme.

As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from 25 February to 9 March, Paul Keetch has written to all schools in the constituency to urge them to begin the process to become a 'Fairtrade School'. Paul, together with the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Hereford and South Herefordshire, Sarah Carr, are keen to hear from participating schools to talk to students about Fairtrade issues and to hear about the work already done by pupils and schools in the constituency.

Fairtrade hopes to have a total of 2,000 primary and 500 secondary schools fully certified as 'Fairtrade Schools' by 2009. So far only 1,000 schools in the UK have registered with the scheme and Paul Keetch hopes that by highlighting the scheme through Fairtrade Fortnight schools in the area will be encouraged to sign up.

The MP has also added his support to a parliamentary motion marking Fairtrade Fortnight and urging the Government to support the expansion of fair trade into new countries and products.

Commenting, Paul Keetch MP said, "The growth in Fairtrade initiatives is very impressive and the efforts to improve awareness in schools are particularly important."

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Sarah Carr added, "Despite huge increases in the sale of Fairtrade products in the UK, total sales in 2003 represented only 0.17% of total spending on food and drink. This highlights that there is so much more to be done and our local schools are a vital way to show all local people that we can make a difference.

"The Fairtrade Foundation has set an ambitious target for schools to participate in their scheme and I hope every school in Herefordshire will lead the way and embrace this project."