MSP PUSHES FOR A FAIR TRADE SCOTLAND
September 17, 2008 12:00 AM
Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland, today pressed the case for Scotland to become fair trade nation during a debate on international development.
The debate comes after publication of the Scottish Parliament's Europe and External Relations Committee report into the Scottish Government's international development policy announced in May this year.
Speaking after the debate, Jim Hume said:
"International development policy (IDP) is something which not only has reaching implications for the fight against global poverty but, crucially, also aims to build sustainable and successful communities in the long term so that in the future, communities suffering from poverty can become empowered and not reliant upon aid packages alone.
"Clearly Scotland has a moral obligation to play its part in delivering the UN's Millennium Development Goals and Liberal Democrats welcome the committee's detailed report as a helpful indicator of Scotland's progress in helping to tackle global poverty through IDP.
The MSP continued:
"Putting other counties on a fair footing when it comes to trade is hugely important and key in ensuring sustainable economies. But we need to promote fair trade alongside trade justice.
"The South of Scotland Region has done well on fair trade with many shops stocking fair trade goods. The East Lothian town of North Berwick has done so much to work towards becoming a fair trade town and I watch with interest progress on that initiative.
"I hope that the Scottish Government will set out in detail in the coming weeks how it intends to promote the fair trade agenda across all government departments."
ENDS
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