The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-12297, in the name of George Adam, on Fairtrade fortnight 2015. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes that Fairtrade Fortnight 2015 takes place from 23 February to 8 March; further notes that 2015 marks the second anniversary of Scotland achieving Fair Trade Nation status and that this will be celebrated during the fortnight; congratulates everyone who has expressed their commitment to fair trade and who will be holding events across the country; supports the work of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum in promoting what it believes is the deepening and widening of awareness and purchasing of fairly-traded goods and in hosting fair trade visitors to Scotland from the Dominican Republic, Malawi and Mauritius; notes the view that, in order to honour its Fair Trade Nation status, Scotland needs to continue to lead the global campaign to make trade fair; celebrates the achievements of Fair Trade businesses in Paisley and across Scotland in what it sees as them leading the way in showing that trade can be mutually beneficial for producers and consumers, and welcomes moves to encourage public bodies and private business to procure fairly-traded products.
12:32
It is with great pride that I am once again leading a debate during Fairtrade fortnight, in which I will talk about some of the work that we have done in the cross-party group on fair trade, which I co-chair with James Kelly.
During last year’s debate, we said that Scotland becoming a fair trade nation two years ago was not a destination or the end; rather, it was only the start of the process for our counties, communities and towns that became fair trade counties, communities and towns. There is much more that we can do and much work that still needs to be done.
The fair trade premium provides opportunities for education and fair pay for families and communities throughout the world. Some of those were explained to us in the various events that we have had this year. The cross-party group on fair trade has discussed many fair trade issues in the past year, such as the recently launched Bala Sport goods. Members may not be aware that Bala produces footballs and rugby balls in Pakistan, as do many large manufacturers. Many members will be aware of my love of our national game and my support for St Mirren Football Club. I believe that there is still much that we can do in sport, which is a perfect example of something that gives access to young people and everyone else to get involved in the fair trade movement. Sports kits and equipment are produced in countries that would benefit from the fair trade premium.
This year, we met Bala, which explained to us what its name means. In Spanish, it means “bullet”; in Punjabi, it means “strength”; and in Gaelic, it means “ball”. I assume that “strength” in Punjabi means that, working together, we can make a difference, and that the Spanish “bullet” comes from the skilful feet of a Spanish player—obviously not a Scottish one. In Scotland, we just call a ball a ball. That is our way and our lot in life.
Bala is a brand new co-operative organisation that was set up to expand the availability and use of ethically produced Fairtrade sports balls. Around 70 per cent of the world’s hand-stitched balls are made in Pakistan, and an estimated 40,000 workers are involved in that.
Bala’s idea is to ensure that we can, at every level in Scotland, get access to that type of sports equipment. It has equipment that is FIFA approved. One of the most important things that we can do is encourage our football clubs—amateur, junior and professional—to take up the idea of using these balls. That can be difficult because, as we are all aware, the Scottish Professional Football League will have sponsorship deals already. However, we have to consider what is the correct thing to do, ethically. If we are truly a fair trade nation, we have to think about that.
Bala has a share offer at the moment. It is looking for a funding target of £150,000, which will enable it to mainstream its sports equipment in sports and recreation throughout Scotland. A share investment can be as little as £50, with a maximum per individual of £25,000, and the minimum age of a shareholder is 11. This is a perfect example of how we can make fair trade relevant to young people and others throughout Scotland.
We have heard some difficult stories over the years, and there is still a lot of work to be done. Last night, I hosted an event of the Scottish Fairtrade Foundation, which was attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, and visitors from nations that are at various stages of fair trade development. One of those individuals was Pamela L’Intelligent from Mauritius, who is a 44-year-old woman who has worked in manufacturing since her early teens. She started at the age of 13 and worked for three to four years as a helper before being trained as a sewing machinist. Her problem was that some of the equipment and processes that were used where she worked caused her health difficulties. The fair trade premium for her was that she was able to work in an ethical environment with protective equipment. She worked with Craft Aid, which is a non-profit-making organisation that is dedicated to the welfare of disabled people. It was established in 1982 and its main objective is to provide paid employment for disabled people and rehabilitate them into society.
Fair trade cotton is a big issue. Since 2005, it has been available in the United Kingdom. Cotton products that are licensed as Fairtrade products are on sale in the high street and online. However, less than 1 per cent of cotton products in the UK carry the Fairtrade cotton mark. The potential for growth is considerable. When we meet people such as Pamela, we understand how much of a difference the fair trade premium makes.
We also met Charles Chavi, who is employed by the Kasinthula Cane Growers Association in Malawi. He has worked with it for seven years and is the trust administrator, ensuring that everything on the fair trade side of the association’s members’ business is adhered to. He explained to us how much of a difference the fair trade premium can make to the communities that he knows about with regard to access to education, giving young people the opportunity to do something different and increasing literacy levels in low income areas, which makes a difference to people’s lives. Only when we hear those stories do we understand the difference that fair trade can make.
We also met some visitors from Palestine. Taysir and Mohammad told us that they are just farmers. They are not politicians. They have to deal with fair trade issues when it comes to getting their product abroad, but they also have to deal with other issues that are not of their making. That discussion explained to me the difference that fair trade has made. They are just farmers; they are not politicians.
Scotland continues on our journey with fair trade, creating the type of world that we all want to live in—a fair world that is one of opportunity. There are many challenges but, together, we can work towards that future, not just because it is the right thing to do but because we will do ourselves and future generations an injustice if we do not give this a try and make the most of this opportunity.
Nelson Mandela said:
“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.”
Let us remember the words of Nelson Mandela and see what we can do to make the world a better place.
12:39
I congratulate George Adam on securing the debate and on hosting the reception that we all enjoyed so much last night, particularly given that, on this issue, there is such consensus in the chamber.
If we ever needed evidence of the fragility of farms and farming in the developing world, we need only look at the situation in Malawi following the recent devastating flooding that occurred there. Many farmers lost their homes and are struggling to bring their land back into use. With the planting season almost over, those farmers face a precarious future, not knowing whether they will be able to plant crops this year or whether those crops, if planted, will flourish. That, however, is the risk for farmers throughout the developing world. It makes the fair trade premium even more important to them and it makes our support for the principle of fair trade vital.
It is two years since we became a fair trade nation, but that did not happen overnight, nor should it have done. It was the work and commitment of volunteers over the years that led churches, schools, universities, towns, cities and workplaces to be recognised as supporters of fair trade and to take the issue forward.
I must admit that, in 2005, when I first suggested the idea of Scotland becoming a fair trade nation to the then First Minister, Jack McConnell, I had some doubts as to whether it was a realistic proposition, but by the time the Scottish Fair Trade Forum was launched with Scottish Executive funding in 2007, I was sure that we could do it collectively.
The experience of farmers in Malawi tells us that we cannot rest on our laurels and I am glad—indeed, delighted—that the current Scottish Government has committed itself to the cause over the years of its time in office and has continued that funding.
Over the years, the number of items carrying the Fairtrade logo has increased significantly and it is now commonplace to find florists offering Fairtrade roses and other flowers and even jewellers selling items that have been crafted from fairly traded gold.
In the debate on fair trade in 2014, I informed the chamber of the Malawi rice challenge, which was launched by the Lord Provost of Glasgow. That project operated on the basis that, for every 90kg of rice sold, a rice farmer in Malawi would be able to send their child to secondary school for a year. I reported, too, that the target that the Lord Provost set was to sell enough rice to send 12 young people to school. I can advise colleagues that, due to the generosity of the staff and members of Glasgow City Council and the arm’s-length external organisations, not 12 but 24 children in Malawi were able to be supported through school—a real achievement.
This year, Glasgow City Council is continuing its promotion of Malawi rice, but it is now going further. The council will focus on Fairtrade footballs. George Adam has quite rightly drawn Bala to our attention. The council is combining its promotion of fair trade and healthy living and the continuing legacy of the Commonwealth games.
As we have heard, the footballs in question made by Bala are hand-stitched in factories in Pakistan and are made to FIFA international standards. No child labour is involved and the fair trade credentials are certified by a third party. Unfortunately, I understand that the Scottish Football Association is already engaged in a commercial deal that means that it cannot currently use Bala, but hopefully it might do so in the future.
The council will purchase and has purchased 100 of those footballs, which are branded with the logos of Fairtrade, the Commonwealth games legacy and Glasgow’s 2015 green year. The balls will be used at sporting events across the city, many of them in schools, and in the Glasgow Malawi cup, which is to be held in June. Members who attended the reception last night will have seen the footballs and rugby balls on display. A supply of non-branded balls will also be available for purchase—I should say that they are very competitively priced.
Footballs have been sourced from Bala, which George Adam spoke about. It is a co-operative organisation that has had start-up assistance from the council’s co-operative Glasgow business development fund. The balls were officially launched at Hampden stadium last week.
Last year, I suggested that the Parliament shop needed to consider whether it should do more to promote fair trade. I am very pleased to note that the situation has improved. New Fairtrade chocolate has been commissioned, as have some other interesting items, but I do think that we could still go a little bit further.
I thank George Adam once again for organising the debate and I look forward to supporting fair trade for many years to come.
12:44
I, too, thank my colleague George Adam for securing the debate.
In my constituency, a number of communities, schools and churches have achieved fair trade status. I will highlight some of them. Stenhouse primary school achieved fair trade status in 2010. Since the formation of the school’s fair trade committee, it has introduced healthy fair trade snacks in its tuck shop and fair trade tea and coffee in the staffroom. It has also organised fair trade coffee mornings and produced awareness-raising posters in and around the school.
Juniper Green community council recently received a certificate of appreciation from the One World Shop in acknowledgement of the sales of fair trade products at its monthly community market. At last Saturday’s market, the local primary school children displayed their fair trade project, with many of the children taking part in the community council’s bookmark competition to promote the subject.
In Balerno, the parish church and St Mungo’s church are recognised as fair trade churches. The three schools in the village, Dean Park primary, Harmeny school and Balerno community high school are fair trade schools. There are also a number of fair trade retailers, including Scotmid, which was the first Scottish retailer to stock fair trade products.
For a number of years, the Balerno fair trade group has organised an annual craft and coffee morning; this year’s event takes place this Saturday at St Joseph’s and the Ogston hall. In previous years, the craft stalls have included wall hangings from Africa, jewellery from Columbia, rice from Malawi, bags from Nepal and embroidery from Palestine. My personal favourite is the fair trade wine stall and the opportunity to taste the products.
The hard work of all the organisations in Balerno in promoting fair trade in the community resulted in it being recognised as a fair trade village in 2013 by the Fairtrade Foundation.
Why is promoting fair trade important? In developing countries, independent small farmers who work their own land and market their produce through a local co-operative are paid a price that covers the costs of sustainable production; they are also paid a premium that producers can invest in development. By being able to exceed their production costs, they can improve their lives by having access to better education, healthcare and more nutritious food.
We also have the fair trade producers. For example, most fair trade tea is grown on estates. The primary concerns for the workers employed on tea plantations are fair wages and decent working conditions. If the producers agree to pay decent wages, guarantee the right to join trade unions, provide good housing where relevant, maintain health and safety as well as environmental standards and ensure that no child labour or forced labour can occur, in return they are awarded contracts that allow for long-term planning and sustainable production practices where they can receive partial advance payments when requested.
As a result, fair trade benefits workers and communities by spreading profits more equitably and stimulating the local economy. Profits are often reinvested into community projects, such as health clinics, childcare and education.
We can all help the fair trade movement not only by supporting local organisations during Fairtrade fortnight, but by stimulating demand by asking for fair trade products in shops, cafes and restaurants. We can also spread the fair trade message among our family, friends and colleagues and, as a result, assist in a small way in supporting communities in developing countries.
Edinburgh is a fair trade city and Scotland has been recognised as one of the first fair trade nations. That highlights that we, the people of Scotland, share a vision of being a good global citizen and are committed to playing our part in addressing poverty.
12:49
I am delighted to speak in this debate and I, too, thank George Adam for lodging the motion.
Fair trade is unusual in that it works both in theory and in practice. It pledges fair prices for producers in developing countries and gives back power to producers and consumers. Often, many of the farmers and workers who supply necessities such as food and clothing—the things that we take for granted—are left without those self-same necessities. Those producers—the farmers and workers—repeatedly work for poor wages, can be badly treated and can be fired for daring to complain, and fair trade offers vital protection and support. Indeed, some producers have said that it would be impossible to continue farming without it. Fair trade is what it says on the tin; it is about making trade fair and ensuring decent wages and working conditions for producers and workers. In fact, it is a win-win situation for producers and workers, because it means that they can control their futures and lead a life with the dignity and respect to which everyone is entitled.
Consumers have a vital role to play in this. After all, fair trade consumers have the power to change and influence communities around the world every day, and I am delighted that our own Parliament shop stocks some fair trade products. I have with me a bar of Scottish Parliament fair trade chocolate that, to save me from myself, I shall donate to Mr Adam in a gesture of fair trade solidarity.
How many of us know where the fair trade products in our stores are, and do we always remember to buy them? I could do a lot better—and I suspect I am not alone. George Adam made some very interesting suggestions for expanding awareness of fair trade through sport and the involvement of young people. Indeed, young people are important in all this, and I am delighted to welcome to the gallery pupils from St Patrick’s primary school in Coatbridge. It is lovely to have them here, and I hope that they are enjoying the debate and are finding the subject interesting.
In my area, Renfrewshire achieved fair trade zone status in February 2009 after a campaign led by Renfrewshire Council, local fair trade groups, schools, churches and businesses. Renfrewshire also has a fair trade steering group, which was set up to increase awareness of fair trade across Renfrewshire. I should at this point mention Rainbow Turtle, which is an important retailer of fair trade products.
Even before that, in May 2007, my home village of Bishopton become the first village in Renfrewshire to be awarded fair trade village status. Not even Mr Adam can eclipse that local achievement, which recognised the hard work and commitment of local people in doing what they could to help. Now Paisley, Renfrew, Johnstone, Lochwinnoch and Kilbarchan, all of which are in Renfrewshire, have achieved fair trade status. That is a very useful indicator and should act as a very useful encouragement to other communities with regard to what can be achieved when there is a will and desire to support this tremendous initiative. Indeed, as Patricia Ferguson and others have pointed out, Scotland became a fair trade nation in February 2013.
We are all consumers, which means that everyone can do something to support fair trade, and Fairtrade fortnight provides an ideal opportunity to show our support to producers and workers around the world. We can all play a part and get involved in Fairtrade fortnight by buying or consuming fair trade products, safe in the knowledge that every fair trade product purchased goes towards helping farmers and workers in some of the poorest parts of the world. It gives them real support, real encouragement and real guidance and help for a more positive and sustainable future.
12:53
I thank George Adam for bringing this debate to Parliament and for hosting last night’s reception, and I welcome this opportunity to speak about fair trade and Fairtrade fortnight 2015.
In celebrating Scotland’s second anniversary as a fair trade nation, I want to highlight some of the work that is being done in Scotland and in my Kirkcaldy constituency to promote fair trade and to encourage public bodies, businesses, families and individuals to purchase fair trade products. According to the World Trade Organization, world trade has grown by a yearly average of 5.3 per cent over the past 20 years, and that flourishing global trade has led to an increase in merchandise such as bananas, sugar, coffee and cocoa being imported from developing countries. Now that we consume those items every day, we as responsible citizens and consumers need to ask where these products have come from and who has produced them, and to think about the conditions in which they have been produced.
By fostering a relationship between consumers in the developed world and producers in developing countries, the Fairtrade Foundation aims to spread that very message. The Fairtrade mark indicates that a product includes ingredients that were produced mostly by small-scale farming organisations. Those organisations must also apply Fairtrade social, economic and environmental standards as set out by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International, and compliance with those regulations is checked on a regular basis.
Why are those standards of such great importance? They ensure that farmers are paid enough to sustain a living for them and their families. In many African countries, smallholder food producers are the backbone of the agricultural sector and grow 70 per cent of all produce, so securing a decent livelihood for them is essential. Apart from income stability, fair trade promotes workers’ rights, environmental sustainability and democratic governance among co-operatives.
The Scottish Fair Trade Forum, which is mentioned in George Adam’s motion, engages with the public in our country on the issue of fair trade. Established in 2007 by campaigners, Scotland-based non-governmental organisations and the Scottish Government, the forum’s campaign has been a great success. Fair trade town groups in Scotland are continuously growing. Looking at shoppers throughout Scotland, the schoolchild who wears a fair trade cotton uniform and the many fair trade town groups, it is clear that the forum’s work has made an incredible impact.
I will highlight a few fair trade initiatives in my constituency of Kirkcaldy. A local school, St Andrew’s RC high school, has established a fair trade committee. The pupils have spoken out against unethical clothing, and they decided to launch a fair trade cotton hoodies project. Believing that they have the ability to make a change, the young people from that school sourced hoodies from Epona Clothing, which is a company that has helped more than 4,000 farmers by guaranteeing a fair and adequate price for their cotton. The students’ eagerness to engage with the fair trade ethos is truly inspiring, and is forging a more informed generation of consumers.
Greener Kirkcaldy, which is a community organisation in my area, has been extremely active in promoting fair trade. In its eco shop, located at the Kirkcaldy High Street hub, the organisation sells fair trade staples including tea, coffee, sugar and chocolate, along with other fair trade products. To celebrate this year’s Fairtrade fortnight, it is offering refreshments to curious customers who would like to try some Fairtrade products. In conjunction, the organisation is providing information and trying to convince other local businesses and organisations to switch to fair trade. It is also organising a free screening tomorrow of the film “Fairtrade Matters” in the High Street hub.
Although the examples that I have mentioned show how far we have come as a fair trade nation, a lot still needs to be done. Recognising the fact that only 1 per cent of cotton products in the UK carry a Fairtrade mark, and that the on-going price wars have resulted in a 40 per cent decrease in UK retail banana prices, we must acknowledge that further awareness needs to be created. Paying the full value of those products and further enhancing working conditions must remain a priority.
Despite those challenges, I am certain that Scotland will continue to be a leading advocate in the fair trade campaign and educate purchasers throughout the country to make simple changes by buying fair trade produce.
12:58
I am delighted to participate in this members’ business debate, and I congratulate George Adam, my co-convener of the cross-party group on fair trade, on bringing the debate to the chamber.
There can be no doubt that, if the measure of success in what one seeks to achieve in life, as in politics, is making a difference, fair trade can be designated a tangible success. From the impact of fair trade on farmers, producers and workers in the countries that produce fair trade products, it is clear that fair trade has made a real difference and has really grown since the concept first took off.
The test for us in Scotland is to measure the difference that we have made in encouraging fair trade with such countries. The Scottish Fair Trade Forum has been the driver for much of our success. The forum was initiated in January 2007, and I pay tribute to those, including my colleague Patricia Ferguson, who were involved in the initial discussions.
The forum’s director, Martin Rhodes, carries out work to educate people about fair trade and launches successful campaigns, and it is clear that the forum has made a difference. Part of that has involved working closely with the cross-party group on fair trade, which George Adam mentioned. He and Patricia Ferguson mentioned the Bala football campaign, which was the focus of recent discussion at the cross-party group. I hope that that discussion helped to raise the campaign’s profile. Patricia Ferguson gave an example of how the campaign has been marketed and supported by Glasgow City Council.
At the cross-party group, we have had a number of challenging discussions on, for example, trademarks, which David Torrance mentioned. Getting trademarks for fair trade established and accrediting people to use them is a big issue. I remember a very interesting discussion at the cross-party group when we were challenged on whether all that is being handled properly.
As Annabel Goldie said, the test in Scotland is how we can make a difference in our local areas. Like other members, I pay tribute to those who have made a difference in local communities. I am delighted to say that Rutherglen and Cambuslang have been accredited with fair trade status, which is down to the work of the local fair trade group and the churches and schools that participate in it.
I highlight in particular the work of Stonelaw high school, which has one of the most successful fair trade groups in the country. It started with a £100 grant and has raised more than £180,000 from fair trade products. I pay tribute to Isabel Gilchrist, the teacher who has been with the group since the start. The group has been recognised twice in the past year with community and national awards. Its selling of more than £180,000-worth of fair trade goods shows the difference that promoting fair trade locally can make and how the work that local people do links to helping farmers, producers and workers in the countries that participate in the schemes.
Again, I congratulate George Adam on bringing the motion to the chamber and give great credit to all the groups in my constituency and throughout Scotland that work tirelessly on behalf of fair trade.
13:02
I congratulate George Adam on lodging the motion—I believe that he had a similar motion on the topic a year ago—and on the work done by him and his colleagues on the cross-party group on fair trade, to which James Kelly rightly referred and which plays a major part in the Scottish Parliament’s proceedings. Mr Adam is to be congratulated on his work on the issue, as are all other members who are taking it forward.
Mr Adam is, of course, a denizen of Paisley and an enthusiastic supporter of all matters relating to Paisley, including its football team. I was surprised to notice that it took him as long as one minute and 24 seconds to refer to St Mirren Football Club. I am sure that he will be cheered by being able to consume, courtesy of Ms Goldie, the gift of a bar of chocolate the next time he supports the team on the terraces.
On 25 February 2013, the then Minister for External Relations and International Development announced that Scotland had achieved fair trade nation status. That followed the report “Can Scotland call itself a Fair Trade Nation?”, which was submitted by the Scottish Fair Trade Forum and considered by an independent panel of experts. The forum had been awarded a total of £787,000 since 2007 by the Scottish Government to take forward the campaign and it was awarded a further £442,000 up to and including 2017 to build support for fair trade across all sections of Scottish society.
We were—rightly—prompted to action by the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, and the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament have responded to that call. The question that should be asked is: “What does fair trade nation status mean for Scotland?” Being awarded that status demonstrates our commitment to playing our part in making a difference for some of the world’s most vulnerable people, as various members have rightly described.
In supporting the fair trade campaign, the people of Scotland have shown that we are a caring nation that is determined to do what it can to see that workers in the developing world are paid a fair price for their goods so that they can shape their futures and those of their families for the better.
Many members have referred to areas achieving the status of a fair trade town. I have been advised that, over the past 12 months, fair trade status has been achieved by Kirriemuir, Stonehaven, Wishaw, Aberlour, Bearsden, Milngavie, Elgin, Uddingston and Fauldhouse. I apologise to any town that have I inadvertently omitted.
The cause has gained traction across the country and most communities are positively engaging with it. Reference was made to St Patrick’s—a school from your constituency, Presiding Officer—although the schoolchildren rightly chose to leave before this part of proceedings. About 200 schools have participated in fair trade, and that is the crux of matters. As far as I can see—from being in possession of a six-year-old child—children are instinctively keen on learning more about the world and about those who are less fortunate than us. The work that is done in schools by their teachers, with the support of parents, is therefore to be commended and is perhaps the most important of all. The churches’ work should also be recognised.
Over the past eight years, awareness of fair trade has grown among people in Scotland, to a rate of 87 per cent in 2013—that is a very high level. That awareness is proof positive that this is not just a theoretical, paper cause, but something that has ignited a spark of interest throughout the country, based on a sense of decency.
Patricia Ferguson made a point about the Malawi floods; we have provided £150,000 for the Malawi floods response. In response to Mr Adam’s rather prolonged reference to footballs, I can say that Mr Yousaf has met Bala, and we understand that 100 fair trade rugby balls have been purchased for the Milan expo event on 27 March. That is positive.
Many members have referred to events in their constituencies. In my constituency, the Inverness Fairtrade Group has been working extremely hard during Fairtrade fortnight to promote fair trade in the area by organising and supporting events including coffee mornings.
What we did yesterday was good, but what we will do tomorrow is what counts. The excellent support across the Parliament for the fair trade cause demonstrates that it is in good hands and has not been neglected, as it has been taken up actively by all members. Irrespective of our views on related matters, we agree that we can all support and unite in the cause of fair trade and use the powers, resources and opportunities that we have in Scotland to try to make the world a fairer place.
13:08 Meeting suspended.