 The next item of business today is the member's business debate on motion number 12297 in the name of George Adam on fair trade fortnight 2015. This debate will be concluded without any questions being put and I would be grateful if those members who wish to speak in the debate could press the request to speak buttons now please. I call on George Adam to open the debate around seven minutes Mr Adam. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Once again, it is with great pride that I lead this debate during fair trade fortnight and sum up some of the work that we have done within the cross-party group on fair trade, which co-chair with James Kelly as well. We said last year during this debate that Scotland becoming a fair trade nation two years ago was not a destination, it was not the end. It was the start of the process for our counties, our communities, our towns, who all became part of fair trade towns and counties. That was not the end, it was only the beginning. There is so much more that we can do. There is so much work that still needs to be done. The fair trade premium provides the opportunity for education, fair pay and opportunities for families and communities throughout the world. Some of that has already been explained to us at the various events that we have had this year. The cross-party group on fair trade has met with and discussed many issues regarding fair trade in the past year. Issues such as the recently launched balasports goods are not aware, but balasports goods produce footballs and rugby balls in Pakistan, along where a lot of large manufacturers do as well. Many of you will be aware of my love of our national game and my support for sport football club, but I believe that there is still so much that we can do in sport. I think that sport is a perfect example of giving access to young people and everyone else to get involved in the fair trade movement with sports kits and sports equipment, all being produced in countries that would benefit from the fair trade premium. This year, we met with Bala and Bala explained to us what their name actually means. In Spanish, it means bullet, in Punjabi it means strength and in Gaelic it means ball. I would assume that in Punjabi the strength means that working together we can make a difference. The Spanish bullet would come from the skillful feet of a Spanish player, obviously not a Scottish one. In Scotland, we just call a ball a ball. It is our way and it is our lot in life, but Bala is a brand-new co-operative organisation that has set up to expand the availability and use of ethical-produced fair trade sports balls. In Pakistan, about 70 per cent of the world's hand-stitched balls are made there. In Bala, there are an estimated 40,000 workers involved as well. The whole idea is to make sure that we can, at every level in Scotland, ensure that they can get those types of sports equipment there. They have equipment that FIFA has proved. One of the most important things that we should look at is to make sure that we can encourage our football clubs, whether they be amateur, junior or professional, to take up the idea of using some of those balls. It can be difficult, because we are all aware that the SPFL will have sponsorship deals already, but we have to look at what is ethically the correct thing to do. If we are truly a fair trade nation, we have to look at how we do those things as well. Bala is also looking for a share offer available at the moment. It is looking for a funding target to be able to mainstream their equipment in sports and recreation throughout Scotland. Their target is £150,000. A share investment can be as little as £50, with a maximum per individual of 25, and a minimum age of a shareholder can be 11 years old. That is a perfect example of how we can make fair trade relevant to young people and people throughout Scotland as well. However, some of the things that we have heard over the years are difficult stories, and there is still a lot of work to be done. Last night, I hosted an event for the Scottish Fair Trade Foundation that was attended by the Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop and visitors from nations of different stages in fair trade development. One of those individuals was Pamela Linteligent from Mauritius. She 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 machine and started as a machinist. Her problem was that some of the equipment that was used, some of the processes that were used, were making it very difficult for her health. The fair trade premium for her was to ensure that she worked in an ethical environment and that there was protective equipment for her to use as well. She worked with Craft Aid, a non-profit-making organisation dedicated to the welfare of disabled people. The company was established in 1982. Her main objective is to provide paid employment for disabled and rehabilitate them for society. Fair trade cotton is one of the things that is a very big issue. Since 2005, fair trade cotton has been made available in the UK. Cotton products, licences and fair trade are on sale in the high street and online, but less than 1 per cent of cotton products in the UK carry the fair trade cotton mark. The potential for growth of fair trade cotton is considerable. When you meet people like Pamela Linteligent, you understand how much of a difference it makes to their lives that the fair trade premium is. We also met Charles Chavie, who is employed by the Cassithula Caingroes Association and Malawi. He has worked with them for seven years and he is a trust administrator, ensuring that everything that is adhered to with the fair trade side of things in the business. He explained to us how much of a difference it can make in their communities in making sure that access to education, making sure that young people are getting that opportunity to do something different and increasing literacy levels in low-poverty areas is making a difference in their lives. Only when you hear those stories do you know that there is a difference that fair trade can make. We also had some visitors from Palestine. Tazir and Mohammed told us that they are just farmers. They are not politicians. They have to deal with the fair trade and get their product abroad as well, but they have other issues that they have to deal with as well that are not of their making. That explained to me the difference that fair trade has made. They were just farmers, they were not politicians. Our commitment continues on this journey with fair trade, creating the type of world that we all want to live in and in the fair world and one foot of opportunity. There are many challenges, but together we can work towards that future, not just because it is right, not because it is the right thing to do, but also because we want to do ourselves an injustice and that of future generations by not giving this a try and making this opportunity. Nelson Mandela said that overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice. In closing, I would say, let us remember the words of Nelson Mandela and see what we can do to make the world a better place. Many thanks. We now turn to the open debate and its speeches of around four minutes, please. I call on Patricia Ferguson to be followed by Gordon MacDonald. Thank you, Presiding Officer. May I congratulate George Adams for securing this evening's debate and for hosting the reception that we all enjoyed so much last night, particularly on this issue, which is one where there is such consensus across the chamber. If we ever needed evidence of the fragility of farms and farming in the developing world, we only need to 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 if they will be able to plant crops this year or if 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 our support for the principle of fair trade is absolutely 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 due to the work and commitment of volunteers over the years that led churches, schools, universities, towns, cities and workplaces being recognised as supporters of fair trade and taking the issue forward. I must admit that, when I first suggested the idea of Scotland becoming a fair trade nation to the then First Minister Jack McConnell in 2005, I had some doubts as to whether it was a realistic proposition. By the time that the Fair Trade Forum was launched with Scottish executive funding in 2007, I was sure that we could collectively do it. However, the experience of farmers in Malawi tells us that we cannot rest on our laurels, and I am glad and 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 fair trade logo has increased significantly, and it is now commonplace to find florist-soffering fair trade roses and other flowers, and even jewellers selling items crafted from fairly traded gold. In the Fair Trade debate in 2014, I informed the chamber of the Malawi rice challenge launched by the Lord Provost of Glasgow. This project operated on the basis that for every 90 kilos of rice sold, a rice farmer in Malawi would be able to send their child to secondary school for a year, and I reported to them that the target set by the Lord Provost was to sell enough rice to send 12 young people to school. Due to the generosity of the staff and members of the City Council and the Allios, I can advise colleagues that 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 City Council is going to focus on fair trade footballs, and George Adams has quite rightly drawn Bala to our attention, and 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 SFA is already engaged in a commercial deal that means that it cannot currently use Bala, but, hopefully, it might do in the future. The City Council will purchase and has purchased 100 of those footballs, which are branded with the logos of fair trade, 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 will also be used in the Glasgow Malawi Cup to be held in June. Members, as I said, 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, and I should say that they are very competitively priced. The footballs have been sourced from Bala that George Adams spoke about, and that is a co-operative organisation that has had start-up assistance from the Council's co-operative Glasgow development fund, and was officially launched at Hamden stadium last week. Last year, I suggested that the Parliament shop needed to consider whether it should do more to promote fair trade, and I am very pleased to be able to note that the situation has improved. New fair trade chocolate has been commissioned, as have some other interesting items, but I do think that we still could go a little bit further. Presiding Officer, I would like to once again thank George Adams for organising the debate today, and I look forward to supporting fair trade for many years to come. Many thanks, and I now call Gordon MacDonald to be followed by Annabelle Goldie. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I also take this opportunity to thank my colleague George Adams in securing this debate. In my constituency, there are a number of communities, schools and churches that have achieved fair trade status, and I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a number of those who have achieved that fair trade status. Like Steinhouse primary school, who achieved fair trade status in 2010, since the formation of the school's fair trade committee, they have introduced healthy fair trade snacks to their tuck shop, introduced fair trade tea and coffee at the staff room, organised fair trade coffee mornings and produced awareness-raising posters in and around the school. Then is Juniper Green Community Council, who recently received a certificate of appreciation from the one-world shop in acknowledgement of the sales of fair trade products at their monthly community market. The market on Saturday had the local primary school children displaying their project on fair trade, with many of the children taking part in the community council bookmark competition to promote the subject. In Belerno, we have the Paris Church and St Mungo's Church being recognised as fair trade churches. The three schools in the village, Dean Park Primary, Harmony and Belerno High, are fair trade schools, as is a number of retailers, including Scott Mid, who was the first Scottish retailer to stock fair trade products. The Belerno Fair Trade Group have, for a number of years, organised an annual craft and coffee morning, with this year's event taking place this Saturday in St Joseph's and the Augustine 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. However, my own personal favourite is the opportunity to taste fair trade wine. The hard work of all the organisations in Belerno and promoting fair trade in the community resulted in Belerno being recognised as a fair trade village in 2013 by the Fair Trade Foundation. Why is promoting fair trade important? In developing countries, independent small farmers working their own land and marketing their produce through a local cooperative are paid a price that covers the cost of sustainable production and are also paid a premium that producers can invest in development. By being able to exceed their cost of production, it allows them to improve their lives through more nutritious food, better education and access to healthcare. Then there are the fair trade producers. For example, most fair trade tea is grown in estates and the primary concern is for workers employed on tea plantations for fair wages and decent working conditions. If producers agree to pay decent wages, guarantee the right to join trade unions and provide good housing where relevant, also have health and safety as well as environmental standards and where no child or forced labour can occur. In return, they will be 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. All of us can help the fair trade movement not only by supporting local organisations during fair trade for tonight 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 as well as a result in assisting in small way in supporting communities in developed countries. Edinburgh is a fair trade city and Scotland has been recognised as one of the first fair trade nations, highlighting that we, the people of Scotland, share a vision of being a good global citizen and being committed to playing our part in addressing poverty. Many thanks. I now call Annabelle Goldie to be followed by David Torrance. Deputy Presiding Officer, I am delighted to be able to speak in this debate and I too thank George Adam for putting down this 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 it gives power back to both producers and consumers. Many of the farmers and workers supplying necessities like food and clothing, things that we take for granted, are often themselves left without those self-same necessities. When the producers, farmers and workers, repeatedly work for poor wages, when they can be badly treated, when workers can be fired for dating to complain, fair trade offers vital protection and support. Indeed, some producers have said that it would be impossible to continue farming without fair trade. Fair trade is what it says on the tin. It is about making trade fair, ensuring decent wages and working conditions for producers and workers. That is a win-win situation for producers and workers. All that 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. Fair trade consumers have the power to change and influence communities around the world every day. I am delighted that our own Parliament shop is stocking some fair trade products. I have here a bar of Scottish Parliament fair trade chocolate, which, Deputy Presiding Officer, 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 that I am not alone. I thought that George Adam had some very interesting suggestions for expanding awareness of fair trade through sport and involving young people. Young people are so important in that. I am delighted that, in the gallery, we have some pupils from St Patrick's primary in Coatbridge. It is lovely to have them here. I hope that they are enjoying the debate and finding it interesting. In my own area, Renfrewshire achieved fair trade zone status in February 2009, after a campaign led by the Renfrewshire Council, by local fair trade groups, by schools, churches and businesses. Renfrewshire also has a fair trade steering group that is set up to increase awareness of fair trade across Renfrewshire, and Rainbow Turtle is an important retailer of fair trade products. Even before that, in May 2007, my home village of Bishopton was the first village in Renfrewshire to be awarded fair trade village status. I think that not even Mr Adam can try and eclipse that in terms of a local achievement. However, that achievement recognises the hard work and commitment of local people to do what they can to help. Paisley, Renfrew, Johnston, Lochwinnock and Cobarken all in Renfrewshire have achieved fair trade status. That is a very useful indicator and a very useful encouragement to other communities as to what can be achieved when the will is there and the desire to support this tremendous initiative. As Patricia Ferguson and others have said, in February 2013 Scotland became a fair trade nation. As we are all consumers, everyone can do something to support fair trade. Fair trade fortnight is an ideal opportunity to show our support to the producers and workers around the world. We can all play a part, and we can get involved in fair trade 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, giving real support, real encouragement and real guidance and help for a more positive and sustainable future. Many thanks and I now call David Torrance to be followed by James Kelly. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I would like to thank George Adam for bringing his motion to Parliament and for hosting the fair trade reception last night. I welcome his opportunity to speak about fair trade and the fair trade fortnight 2015. Celebrating Scotland's second anniversary of a fair trade nation, I want to highlight some of the work that has been done in Scotland and in my constituency of Kirkcaldy. In promoting fair trade and encouraging public bodies, business families and individuals to purchase their fair trade products. According to a world trade organisation, world trade has grown by a yearly average of 5.3 per cent over the past 20 years. Flourishing global trade has also led to an increase in metrodise being imported from developing countries such as bananas, sugar, coffee and cocoa. Today, we consume these items on a daily basis. However, as a responsible citizen and consumer, we need to ask where those products come from, who produced them and under what conditions. By fostering the relationship between the consumer and the developed world and the producers in developing countries, fair trade aims to spread this message. The fair trade mark indicates that a product includes ingredients that are produced by mostly small-scale farming organisations. They must also apply fair trade to social, economic and environmental standards set out by the fair trade labouring organisation international. Compliance with ease regulations is checked on a regular basis. What is the standard of such a great importance? Ensure that farmers are paid enough to sustain a living for them and their families. In regions such as many African countries, small-holder food producers are a backbone of the agriculture sector, growing 70 per cent of all produce. By securing a decent livelihood for them is essential. Apart from income stability, fair trade promotes workers' rights, environmental sustainability and demographic governance among co-operators. As was mentioned by George Adam in the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, engaged with the public and their country on the issue of fair trade. Established in 2007 by campaigners, Scotland-based non-government organisations and the Scottish Government, the Scottish Fair Trade Forum campaign has been a great success. Fair trade town groups in Scotland are continuously growing. From shoppers across Scotland to school child who wears a fair trade cotton uniform and many of the fair trade town groups, I believe that their work has made an incredible impact. Before concluding, I also want to highlight some fair trade initiatives in my constituency of Kirkcaldy. One of our local high schools, St Andrew's RC Kirkcaldy High School, has established a fair trade committee. Speaking out against unequivocal clothing, people have decided to launch a fair trade cotton hoodies project. They are leading that they have the ability to make a change. Young people for St Andrew's High School sourced hoodies from opponent clothing, a company that has helped over 4,000 farmers guarantee a fair and adequate price for their cotton. For students in eekerness to engage with the fair trade effers, it is truly inspiring for a more informed generation of consumers. Greener Kirkcaldy, a local community organisation in my area, has also been extremely active in promoting fair trade. In the rico shop located in Kirkcaldy High Street hub, Greener Kirkcaldy sells fair trade samples, including tea, coffee, sugar and chocolate, along with other fair trade products. Celebrating this year's fair trade fortnight, Greener Kirkcaldy is offering refreshments to curious consumers who would like to try some of the fair trade products. In conjunction, they are providing information and trying to convince other local businesses and organisations to switch to fair trade. From tomorrow, they are also organising a free screening of the film Fair Trade Matters in their High Street hub. While the examples mentioned show how far we have come as a fair trade nation, a lot still needs to be done, recognising that only 1 per cent of cotton produced in the UK carry a fair trade mark and the on-going price wars have seen a 40 per cent decrease in the UK retail banana prices. Further awareness needs to be created, paying for the full value of these products and further enhancing working conditions need to remain a priority. Lastly, despite those challenges, I am certain that Scotland will continue to be a leading advocate in the fair trade campaign and to educate partishers across the country to make simple changes by buying fair trade produce. I am delighted to participate in this afternoon's member's debate. I congratulate George Adam, my convener of the cross-party group on fair trade in bringing the debate to the chamber. There can be no doubt that, if the test or the measure of what you are seeking to achieve in life as in politics is making a difference, fair trade is something that can be demonstrated as a real tangible success. If you look at the impact of fair trade, whether you are a farmer, producer or worker in the countries that produce fair trade products, it has made a real difference and it has really grown since the concept took off. I suppose that the test for us here in Scotland is examining the difference that we have made in encouraging that trade to those countries. I think that the driver for a lot of that success has been the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, which was initiated in January 2007. I think that tribute goes to those involved in those initial discussions, including my colleague Patricia Ferguson. If you look just now at the work that the director Martin Rhodes carries out in terms of educating people on fair trade and also launching successful campaigns, they really have made a difference. Part of that has been working really closely with the cross-party group in the Parliament that George Adam has mentioned. George Adam and Patricia Ferguson mentioned the Ball of Football campaign, which was the focus of a recent discussion at the cross-party group in fair trade. Hopefully, those discussions have helped raise the profile of that campaign. Patricia Ferguson gave a practical example of that in the way in which that campaign has been marketed and supported within Glasgow City Council. We have also had a number of challenging discussions at the cross-party group in fair trade. David Torrance had mentioned trademarks, which is a big issue in terms of getting trademarks established and accrediting people to use the trademarks. I remember one very interesting discussion at the cross-party group where we were challenged as to whether that was all being handled properly. I suppose that the test in Scotland, as Annabelle Goldie said, how can we make a difference in our own local areas? Like others, I want to pay tribute to those who have made a real difference in local communities. In Rutherglen and Cambuslang, I am delighted to say that they have been accredited with fair trade status. That goes down to the work of the local fair trade group and the local churches and schools that participate in that. I particularly want to highlight the work of Stonewall High School, one of the most successful fair trade groups in the country, which started off with £100 grant, but has raised more than £180,000 for fair trade products. That goes to Isabel Gilchrist, the teacher who has been with the group since the start. The group recently has been recognised twice in the past year with getting community awards and awards at a national level. That shows the difference in promoting that at a local level and selling that £185,000 worth of fair trade goods. The work that local people are doing and how that links in to helping the farmers, producers and workers of the countries that are participating in the schemes. I congratulate George Adam again on bringing the motion to the chamber and giving great credit to all the local groups, not only in my constituency, but throughout Scotland, who work tirelessly on behalf of fair trade. Can I now invite Fergus Ewing to respond to the debate, minister? Seven minutes or so, please. Presiding Officer, thank you very much. I congratulate George Adam on bringing forward this motion today, as he did indeed do so before on this topic a year ago. For the work that he and his colleagues do on the cross-party group on fair trade to which James Kelly has quite rightly alluded, which plays a major part in this Parliament's proceedings. Mr Adam is therefore to be congratulated in his work on this issue, as are all other members who are taking it forward. He is also, of course, a denizen of Paisley and an enthusiastic supporter of all matters relating to Paisley, including its football team. I was slightly surprised to notice that it took him as long as one minute and twenty-four seconds before alluding to Saint Mirren, and I am sure that he will be cheered by the fact that he will next be able to consume courtesy of Ms Goldie in the gift of a bar of chocolate when he is supporting them on the terraces at their next outing. On 25 February 2013, the minister for Europe 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 from the Scottish Government to take forward the campaign, with a further £442,000 up to and including 2017, in order to build support for fair trade across all sections of Scottish society. We were prompted to action by the Fair Trade Forum quite rightly. I think that, as a Government, as a Parliament, we have responded to that call. The question should be asked, what does fair trade nation status actually mean for Scotland? Being awarded the status demonstrates our commitment to playing our part in making a real difference to some of the world's most vulnerable people, as various members have quite rightly described. I think that the people of Scotland have shown in supporting the fair trade campaign that we are a caring nation determined to do what we 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 the local achievement of status of a fair trade town. Over the past 12 months, I have advised that that has been achieved by Ciri Muirstone, Haven, Wishaw, Aberlawer-based N, will Guy Elgin, Oddingston, Fault House and my apologies to any that I have inadvertently omitted. I think that this is therefore a cause that has gained traction across the whole country and indeed most communities positively engaging with that. Indeed, also, references have been made, Presiding Officer, to a school from your own constituency, St Patrick's, who quite rightly chose to leave before this part of the proceedings. However, there have been around 200 schools that have participated. I think that this is really perhaps the crux of matters so far, as I can see in possession of a six-year-old child that children are instinctively keen on learning more about the world than those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Therefore, the work that is done in schools by their teachers with the support of their parents is to be commended and is perhaps the most important thing of all. However, the work of the churches, too, should be recognised. It is important to say that, over the past eight years, awareness of fair trade has grown amongst people in Scotland to 87 per cent in 2013. Where 87 per cent of people are aware of something, that is a very high level of awareness. It is proof positive that this is not just a paper theoretical cause, it is something that has ignited a spark of interest based on a sense of decency throughout the country. We have, to respond to Patricia Ferguson's point about the Malawi floods, provided some funding £150,000 for the Malawi floods response. I understand that Mr Yusif, to respond to Mr Adam's rather prolonged reference to footballs during his speech, we have met with, Mr Yusif has met with Bala, and we understand that 100 fair trade rugby balls have been purchased for Bala for the Milan Expo event on 27 March. That is positive. Lots of specific events and constituencies have been referred to quite rightly in this debate by a number of members participating. In my constituency, the Inverness fair trade group has been working extremely hard during fair trade fortnight to promote fair trade in our area, organising and supporting events, including coffee mornings and other activities. In closing, perhaps I should say that what we do yesterday has been good, but it is what we do tomorrow that counts. The fact that there has been such an excellent support across the chamber for this cause demonstrates that it is in good hands. It is not a cause that has been neglected but one that has been taken up actively by, as all irrespective of our viewpoints on matters, we all agree that the cause of fair trade is one that we can all support, unite in and use the powers, the resources and the opportunities that we have in Scotland to try, indeed, to make the world a fairer place. Many thanks minister. That concludes George Adam's debate on fair trade fortnight 2015, and I now suspend this meeting of Parliament until 2.30pm.