Warinder Juss

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow North (Martin Rhodes) for securing the debate. I also thank the team at Fairtrade UK for their incredible work; it was a pleasure to attend their festive reception in Parliament yesterday afternoon. I have been a supporter of Fairtrade for some time, inspired by some of the wonderful activists in my home city of Wolverhampton. I am very proud that recently the Wolverhampton City Fairtrade Partnership celebrated Wolverhampton’s 21st year as a Fairtrade city, showing the care and compassion of my constituents in Wolverhampton West and others in the city. I recently attended a tea party at the City of Wolverhampton College to celebrate Fairtrade fortnight, and it was a joy to see that the students had baked delicious cakes to promote the event, and to hear more about the work that Wolverhampton Fairtrade has been doing. I continue to work with the group on a regular basis to support the consumption of Fairtrade products in our city. As we know, Fairtrade is much more than just a label: it is about justice, equality, humanity and sustainability. Fairtrade benefits the planet by helping the fight against climate change. Fairtrade certification enables farmers to respect human rights and tackle environmental risks, including by banning toxic pesticides, protecting biodiversity and encouraging sustainable organic farming practices that are free of hazardous waste and use water efficiently. Shoppers in the UK know that when they purchase Fairtrade products they are making an ethical purchase, supporting fair, sustainable farming practices around the world. Most importantly, Fairtrade helps farmers across the globe who would otherwise live in deep poverty and very poor conditions to receive guaranteed minimum prices, with improved working conditions and a proper say in how decisions are made. On top of that, Fairtrade certification offers an additional financial premium that allows farmers to democratically decide how to invest the money in community development projects, such as schools, training and water treatment systems, thereby actively improving local communities and securing their livelihoods. From my constituents who are choosing which teabags to buy, to major UK retailers and brands, to the more than 2 million farmers and workers across more than 70 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, Fairtrade ensures that human rights and environmental risks are taken seriously throughout the supply chain. From protecting the climate to ending child labour and supporting farming communities around the world, Fairtrade does it all, with Fairtrade community development premium funds being used to reinvest in education, healthcare, housing and environmental initiatives. As parliamentarians, we must continue to champion Fairtrade and the farmers and workers it supports, for the present and the future. Our planet and its people depend on it.