Huhne champions Fairtrade Schools in Eastleigh

7.00.00am GMT Mon 25th Feb 2008

Eastleigh MP, Chris Huhne, 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, Mr Huhne has written to every school in the constituency to urge them to begin the process to become a 'Fairtrade School'.

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 Mr Huhne hopes that by highlighting the work of schools like Stoke Park Junior School other schools in the area will be encouraged to sign up.

Mr Huhne 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 Chris Huhne said:

"The growth in Fairtrade initiatives is very impressive and the efforts to improve awareness in schools are particularly important.

"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 Eastleigh will lead the way and embrace this project."

Daphne Bright, Chair of the Fairtrade in Eastleigh Borough Campaign said:

"I am delighted to have Chris Huhne's support on this issue. I am confident that many of our schools will rise to this challenge and be among the first to become Fairtrade Schools. This is a vital part of the campaign to achieve Fairtrade status in Eastleigh Borough.

For more information visit http://www.fairtradeineastleighborough.org/