Local MP Champions Fairtrade Schools in the Cheadle Constituency

5.50.35pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 18th Feb 2008

Mark Hunter is supporting the "Fairtrade Fortnight"

Cheadle Constituency MP, Mark Hunter, 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, Mark Hunter has written to every school in the constituency to urge them to begin the process to become a 'Fairtrade School' - if they haven't already done so.

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 Hunter hopes that by highlighting the opportunity other schools in the area will be encouraged to sign up.

Mr Hunter has also added his support to a parliamentary motion (Early Day Motion 913) marking Fairtrade Fortnight and urging the Government to support the expansion of fair trade into new countries and products.

Commenting Mr Hunter 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. Stockport has already been awarded 'Fairtrade Borough' status and it would be brilliant to see our schools following suit.

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