The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16923, in the name of Angus Robertson, on “Scotland—a fair trade nation”. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons.
15:02
I am proud to have the opportunity to open the debate, which will celebrate Scotland’s renewed status as a fair trade nation.
The title of fair trade nation is one that Scotland has held for more than a decade. We share it with only one other nation, namely our friends in Wales. However, being a fair trade nation is about more than just a title. The motion recognises the dedication and hard work of fair trade campaigners, businesses and communities across Scotland to achieving and, importantly, sustaining fair trade nation status. I had the chance to meet some of them at a reception ahead of the debate, and I am delighted to see them in the public gallery today. I thank them for their work in championing the cause of fairness in global trade, and I look forward to hearing more about their efforts from colleagues across the parties during the debate. I also thank Scottish Fair Trade for its leadership in promoting and strengthening Scotland’s fair trade commitment.
The report “Is Scotland Still a Fair Trade Nation?”, which was published earlier this month, notes that 97 per cent of the Scottish population have heard of fair trade. That is a phenomenal result, which reflects the work of Scottish Fair Trade and its members to ensure that fair trade remains at the forefront of people’s minds.
The report also reminds us of the turbulent context in which renewed fair nation status was achieved. It has been seven years since the previous assessment. Since then, we have had a period of unprecedented upheaval, with Brexit’s trade realignments, the economic and social disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the heightened urgency of the climate emergency. Yet, in the face of those immense challenges, Scottish civic society has held fast to its commitment to justice and equity in trade.
This year also marks a significant milestone in Scotland’s commitment to addressing poverty and inequality overseas, as it is the 20th anniversary of the Scottish Government’s international development programme. That milestone is significant not only for the Government but for the whole Parliament.
Twenty years ago, the G8 met at Gleneagles to discuss the challenges that Africa was facing at the time. Shortly after, the Scottish Parliament hosted an event called “Malawi After Gleneagles”, which brought together key Scots and Malawians from across Government, Parliament and civic society. The approach that was mapped out at that event—with a clear focus on people-to-people links and dignified reciprocal partnership—has guided our international development work ever since. That is reflected in the new international development principles that we co-developed with our partner countries and international non-governmental organisations in Scotland in 2021.
At that Scottish Parliament event in 2005, the then First Minister of Scotland, the Rt Hon Jack McConnell, made a point that is as true now as it was then. He said:
“The primary duty of this Parliament and our devolved government is to use our powers for the betterment of the people of Scotland. But we have another duty too, as elected politicians and as citizens of the world: a duty to be good neighbours and to play our part in global challenges.”
Strong cross-party support for international development in the Scottish Parliament has been a feature that has underpinned the international development work of successive Scottish Governments since 2005. It has been fundamental to the international development programme and therefore to the difference that has been made by contributions from Scotland over the past two decades to the lives of those who live in our partner countries and, through our wider aid, to the communities that live through humanitarian crises.
My express hope is that the Scottish Parliament will continue our proud tradition of supporting our partner countries for the benefit of the most vulnerable communities globally and that the Parliament will continue to show leadership on the global stage.
Members here today will, I am sure, share concerns about the deteriorating global order at this time and the cuts to aid that have been made over the past weeks by Governments around the world. The freeze and now newly-announced termination of 83 per cent of US Agency for International Development spend has seen the largest donor of humanitarian and development assistance pause and then cancel the majority of its programming. We know that that will have a serious global impact on the most vulnerable, including in our partner countries.
The United Kingdom Government recently announced further cuts in aid, with the amount of UK gross national income being spent on overseas development aid dropping from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent, which will further compound that global impact.
The Scottish Government has been clear that, although we welcome the UK Government’s commitment to increased defence spending at a time of such acute need across Europe, we are deeply disappointed by the cut to the overseas aid budget, which will be the lowest percentage of UK finance spent on aid in over a quarter of a century.
This is a time when, globally, we all need to step up to support the poorest and most vulnerable communities in the world. One of the simplest ways that we can do that as a nation is through our support for fair trade. By promoting and purchasing fair trade, we support producers, workers and enterprises, particularly in the global south, to build a fairer, more sustainable trading system—one that supports the rights, dignity and livelihoods of people throughout the supply chain.
Businesses, schools, churches and local communities across Scotland are doing just that. The assessment report “Is Scotland still a Fair Trade Nation?” noted that fair trade activity regularly happens in 22 of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas. That level of civic engagement across all sectors of society in Scotland speaks to the deep and unwavering commitment to justice and equity in trade that exists across our communities.
I agree with a lot of what the cabinet secretary has said. He mentioned that there is activity in many local authorities. However, does he accept that that is quite a low bar? It does not need to be a lot of activity.
I agree with John Mason that the level of support will vary from one part of the country to another. I will use his intervention as a springboard to encourage the local authority areas that are not yet playing a part to begin to do so. I hope that, through encouragement and with the support of campaigners, we can broaden, widen and enhance the fair trade movement’s impact across Scotland. He is right to wish that the level of support be increased, and I would welcome the minority of local government areas in Scotland that are not yet part of the process being part of it in the future.
Edinburgh, where my Edinburgh Central constituency is located, obtained Fairtrade status in 2004. I commend the work of the Edinburgh Fairtrade city steering group for its work to support and promote fair trade across the city. I particularly congratulate the steering group and Scottish Fair Trade for their successful bid to host the international Fair Trade Towns conference in Edinburgh later this year, which will be the first time that the prestigious event has been held in Scotland.
Today’s global challenges—climate change, pandemics, conflict, poverty and inequality—can be addressed only if the global south and the global north work together.
The minister will have seen reports today challenging Ed Miliband on the sourcing of solar panels from China. Has he reassured himself about the source of solar panels that are purchased through Government schemes in Scotland?
I am grateful to Willie Rennie for raising the issue. I have a confession to make: I have not read those reports yet. I commit to doing so, and will look closely at the points that he raised. I am just being frank with him; I have not yet read those reports.
Fair trade, with its focus on global solidarity and marginalised producers, is an important part of our international development programme, alongside other key areas. Over the past year, we have launched new programmes on health and inclusive education, from new strategic education partnerships with the World Bank to support at a very local level for girls and learners with disabilities to better access school, and from a new strategic partnership with the World Health Organization on non-communicable diseases to developing community palliative care within our partner countries.
Beyond our support for our partner countries, through longer-term programming, we have also continued to contribute globally where humanitarian crises occur. It was reported that 2024 had the highest number of countries engaged in conflict since the end of world war two. Climate change is increasing the risk of conflict, with more frequent extreme weather events and the world hitting 1.5°C for the first time last year.
According to the December 2024 report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 305.1 million people are expected to require immediate humanitarian assistance in 2025. We have continued to respond to global crises, principally through our standing humanitarian emergency fund panel, including for the less well-known crises, such as that in Sudan.
I turn to our commitment on climate justice. Scotland remains committed to addressing the injustice that is at the heart of climate change—that those who have done the least to cause the crises are suffering the impacts worst and first and are often the least able to respond. That is becoming ever more evident, with some global south Governments’ budgets so consumed with responding to the latest climate disaster and debt relief payments that little or nothing is left for health and education. This is why the Scottish Government established the world’s first climate justice fund, with the £36 million fund specifically focused on supporting the most marginalised communities around the world to address the impacts of climate change. That support extends to the very producers that we are discussing today. For example, the climate justice fund water futures programme in Malawi worked with UK retailers to ensure water sustainability for communities in Malawi to protect their key exports, namely tea and coffee.
It is in recognition of the challenges that our partners face that we remain committed to growing the international development fund to £15 million by the end of this session of Parliament and to maintaining a £1 million humanitarian emergency fund.
Scotland also faces its own challenges, of course, and we cannot shy away from the fact that there are increasing pressures on public finances. However, our international development funding reflects our commitment to support and align with the sustainable development goals domestically in Scotland and to contribute overseas as a good global citizen. We have been clear that we do not want to
“balance the books on the backs of the poor.”
Today’s debate on Scotland’s renewed fair trade nation status serves as an important reminder that we live in a world that is facing immense challenges and that we need to work together to ensure our planet is more equal, fair and sustainable for everyone. Promoting fair trade does just that.
I am pleased to move the motion, and I ask members across the chamber to support it.
I move,
That the Parliament welcomes Scotland’s renewed status as a Fair Trade Nation; recognises the dedication and hard work of Fair Trade campaigners, businesses and communities across Scotland in sustaining this achievement; congratulates Scottish Fair Trade for its leadership in promoting and strengthening Scotland’s Fair Trade commitment; acknowledges the vital role of Fair Trade producers, workers and enterprises in the Global South in building a fairer, more sustainable trading system; recognises that Fair Trade is a partnership that supports the rights, dignity and livelihoods of those throughout the supply chain, and commits to uphold and advance Scotland’s role as a Fair Trade Nation as part of its broader commitment to global citizenship and international solidarity.
I call Murdo Fraser to speak to and move amendment S6M-16923.1.
15:14
I very much welcome the opportunity to debate the topic of Scotland as a fair trade nation. In the course of my remarks, I will talk about the progress that we have made in relation to the purchase of fair trade products internationally, but I also want to spend a little time looking at what is happening in Scotland in relation to giving a fair deal to producers here.
As the cabinet secretary has already said, Scotland is a fair trade nation. On 10 March this year, Scottish Fair Trade announced that we had retained our status, stating that all five criteria that we require to meet to be a fair trade nation had been met. However, Scottish Fair Trade made a series of eight recommendations for keeping the fair trade movement going, including on the need to improve data and legislation, to connect with supermarkets and to work with the public to keep ethics a high priority.
We know that, across Scotland, there is considerable consumer support for the concept of fair trade. The latest figures, from March 2024, tell us that 85 per cent of Scottish consumers say that they buy a fair trade product at least once a year, with 66 per cent—two thirds—saying that they buy one at least once a month. Despite the rising cost of living, there is little evidence that those figures are going into decline, which shows that, even when economic times are tough, people still recognise the value of fair trade.
What is fair trade? Essentially, it is an arrangement designed to help producers in developing countries to achieve sustainable and equitable trade relationships. Generally speaking, producers who are part of the fair trade movement can expect higher prices for their products. They can pass that extra money on to their workers in better pay and benefits, and it can also be used to help to improve environmental standards.
The fair trade movement originated in relation to commodities that were typically exported from developing countries, such as coffee, cocoa, sugar, fruit, flowers and gold. The Fairtrade Foundation works with farmers, producers and more than 1,900 producer organisations across 68 countries. In 2023, UK sales of fair trade products generated £28 million in fair trade premiums for farmers and workers—that was money over and above the cash that they would otherwise have received for their products.
A number of years ago, I had the privilege of visiting Malawi as part of a visit with a number of other parliamentary colleagues. We saw for ourselves at a coffee plantation the value that fair trade brought to the workers there. It allowed them to enjoy a level of income and job security that simply would not otherwise have been possible.
Public agencies here can lead by example on the purchase of fair trade products, and here in the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body has been very clear that fair trade products should be used wherever possible. However, ultimately, fair trade is driven by the consumer. If individuals recognise the value of the Fairtrade label and understand the benefits that it brings, they can choose to use their spending power to support the initiative, even when it might cost them a little bit extra. As I highlighted earlier, the evidence shows us that Scottish consumers are prepared to continue to support the fair trade programme, even though it might mean them paying a small amount extra to do so.
It has been good to see many local communities across Scotland embracing the concept of fair trade. In my region, Aberfeldy became the first Fairtrade town in Scotland, in 2002, and Kinross-shire became the first Fairtrade county in Scotland, in August 2005. Those were both communities in which active people came together to push for the label to be adopted, and I am sure that other members will have similar stories of communities in the areas that they represent similarly embracing the concept of fair trade.
Although the focus of the fair trade movement is on international imports of commodities, such as coffee, we should not lose sight of the wider concept of fair trade for producers at home, which is a topic that is mentioned in my amendment. A consistent and regular complaint that we hear from farmers and food producers in Scotland is that they do not see sufficient focus on the purchase of locally produced food. Such a focus would not only support local employment but help the environment by reducing food miles. However, too often, we see supermarket shelves lined with fruit and vegetables that might well have been flown thousands of miles to get here, even though there are alternatives available that are produced closer to home.
That frustration is felt particularly when it comes to public procurement. Over the years, I can recall many occasions on which we have debated the need for procurement rules to better support local economies and local producers. Such support is particularly needed when it comes to the provision of food, such as for school meals or catering in hospitals, where there is an opportunity to purchase what is produced locally, which would put money back into the local economy.
Too often, in the past, national health service boards and local councils have hidden behind Scottish Government procurement rules to say that preference cannot be given to local producers. Similarly, the Scottish Government has hidden behind European Union procurement rules. Now that we are no longer in the EU, those excuses carry little weight.
When the Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee took evidence recently for its post-legislative scrutiny of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, we heard examples of good practice, where local authorities are making the effort to provide healthy, nutritious meals that are produced from local ingredients. That is very much to be welcomed, and I was encouraged to see Argyll and Bute Council providing venison on the school menu to support the local industry and local gamekeepers. I would like to see that initiative rolled out more broadly. However, that practice is not universal. We need leadership from the Scottish Government to ensure that we are providing fairness for the very substantial public sector spend in supporting local business.
There is a legislative opportunity to address some of those issues through the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced last week and which I had the pleasure of reading over the weekend. The bill’s intention is to ensure greater support for local economic operators to access public sector contracts and to use public procurement to facilitate the generation, circulation and retention of wealth in the local economy.
That all sounds very welcome, but my initial reading of the bill leaves me with a whole list of questions, which I will raise as the bill progresses through its committee stage. In essence, the bill requires ministers to publish a community wealth building statement. There are similar obligations on local authorities and relevant public bodies, including health boards, colleges and enterprise agencies, to work together as community wealth building partnerships. It all sounds very heavy on strategy and the publication of documents, and rather light on outcomes. It would be a pity if the bill was not a significant opportunity to address the concerns that have been raised with us over many years by local businesses about their difficulty in accessing a fair share of public contracts. I am sure that we can pursue that issue in the Economy and Fair Work Committee and in the chamber as the bill progresses.
My amendment to the motion also makes a wider point about the benefits of free trade more generally. We have a new US President who is threatening to impose trade tariffs, which might or might not end up hurting UK exports. We should be unequivocal about championing free trade. Trade barriers hurt growth and cost jobs, so let us be clear that free trade is a positive. Let us encourage the UK Government in particular to look for new trade deals across the world with countries such as India, which will help Scottish and British businesses to grow.
I am happy to put on the record our party’s continuing support for the concept of fair trade and to join the cabinet secretary in celebrating Scotland’s position as a fair trade nation.
I move amendment S6M-16923.1, to insert at end:
“; recognises that free and fair trade is the most powerful engine for poverty reduction and global prosperity; affirms that open markets, trade liberalisation and the entrepreneurial spirit are central to Fair Trade; believes that protectionism and arbitrary trade barriers harm the very producers and communities that Fair Trade seeks to support; calls on all MSPs to actively champion global agreements that allow Scotland’s businesses to compete, innovate and lead on the world stage, and further calls on the Scottish Government to support the full potential of, and critical work already performed by, local producers by properly accounting for them in its public sector procurement rules and guidelines.”
I call Colin Smyth to speak to and move amendment S6M-16923.2.
15:23
Scotland’s status as a fair trade nation reflects a commitment to social justice, sustainability and global solidarity. It is a powerful statement of our shared values that demonstrates leadership and promotes ethical trade and equality at a time when inequality too often runs through our global supply chains.
As the convener of the Parliament’s cross-party group on fair trade and the chairperson of Dumfries and Galloway regional fair trade steering group, I see every day the difference that is made by the fair trade principle that producers and workers should receive fair payment, good working conditions and opportunities for economic empowerment. I recognise that it is the work of local groups and campaigners, businesses, faith groups, councils and, ultimately, the producers themselves that makes the fair trade principle a reality.
I am delighted to welcome some of those grass-roots campaigners, who join us in the gallery and online for the debate. Like many colleagues, I regularly get to meet inspiring fair trade campaigners at events across my region. In the past few weeks alone, I have spoken at Dumfries fair trade group’s public meeting on the future of fair trade and eaten way too many cakes at the Kirkcudbright fair trade group’s big brew and at the fair trade village big brew in Dunscore—a village that probably organises more fair trade events per head of population than anywhere else in the world.
Whenever I head to such events, my kids always shout, “Don’t forget the Fairtrade chocolate,” and my wife usually adds, “And the Fairtrade wine.” Let us hope that she does not find that there is now Fairtrade gold, too. That recognition, warmth and support for fair trade has been generated by the work of our fair trade communities.
Therefore, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to every volunteer, shop, organisation, school and faith group that plays a role in delivering trade justice for vulnerable farmers and workers in the global south. Their efforts, along with ours in the Parliament, are supported by the fantastic work of Scottish Fair Trade, which was previously under the leadership of Martin Rhodes and is now led by Louise Davies, alongside her small but exceptional team of Catherine, Sissa and Kiera. They are backed by their board, which is under the chairmanship of Charles, Liz and Rachel.
The Scottish Fair Trade Forum’s work led to the step change in fair trade activity in Scotland that resulted in fair trade nation status being secured more than a decade ago. We celebrate the fact that that has been renewed this year, at a time when the fair trade principles of fair prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers have never been more important.
Fair trade challenges the injustices of conventional trade and is at the heart of the fight against climate change. The Fairtrade premium, which ensures that producers in the global south are paid fairly, is a lifeline for communities, as it allows them to invest in sustainable farming and to afford medicine, education, food and good housing.
The member has mentioned a lot of good news that I certainly support and welcome. He has also said a lot about food. Does he accept that we still have some way to go as far as clothing is concerned? We have heard at the cross-party group on fair trade that it has been difficult to get procurement of fair trade clothing.
I agree entirely with the really important point that John Mason has made. I will come on to the importance of procurement in a second, because if the question is whether the Parliament and the Government can do a lot more, the answer is, “Absolutely—we certainly can.”
Many local fair trade groups that have tried get a Fairtrade sign put up at the entrance to their Fairtrade village or town say that their council, or Transport Scotland, has said no. How much of Scotland’s £16 billion public sector procurement budget is actually spent on fair trade products? The answer is often, “We simply do not know.” Scottish Fair Trade has been trying to measure that since 2019, yet no consistent monitoring or definition has been put in place. Last year’s Economy and Fair Work Committee inquiry into the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 highlighted the lack of a standardised legal definition of “fairly traded”, which has led to different public bodies taking different interpretations.
We need to have a clearer definition that is aligned with Fairtrade International and the World Fair Trade Organization—not to mandate purchases, but to enhance transparency and accountability. Since our committee’s recommendation, I am pleased that guidance on procurement has improved, but I urge the Government to go further and enshrine the definition in law by amending the 2014 act, which will enable us to see how many fair trade products are being bought.
Scottish business also has a vital role to play. As a Labour and Co-operative Party MSP, I am proud of the co-operative movement’s early and continued support for Fairtrade. The co-op retail movement remains Fairtrade’s largest UK supporter, and many Fairtrade producers operate as co-operatives. Other retailers could follow that example by increasing the amount of Fairtrade stock that they sell and ensuring that their supply chains are ethical. By integrating ethical risk assessments and supply chain due diligence, Scotland could lead the way in responsible trade.
Given that fair trade enterprises face higher costs than conventional businesses, we should also strengthen support to help them to thrive and scale up their impact. Just as it is vital to embed fair trade and ethical supply chains in Scottish business practices, it is vital to integrate fair trade in education and lifelong learning, to inspire the next generation’s commitment to fair and ethical trade. I am delighted that we are joined by some of those future champions, who are from Holy Cross high school in Hamilton, in the gallery today. They really do lead by example in their work.
Fair trade nation status is more than a title; it is a commitment to social justice, sustainability and global solidarity. It strengthens our international reputation and affirms our leadership in ethical trade. To maintain that status, we can and must do more—for example, by ensuring that our public procurement policies align with fair trade principles and embedding such values in business and education. Fair trade is not only about purchasing choices; it is about the world that we want to build—one that is rooted in fairness, equity and sustainability.
I will be pleased to move Labour’s amendment, in my name, and to support the Government’s motion. Although I do not fully agree with some parts of the Conservative amendment, I recognise the important points that it makes about support for local producers—which, I stress, is not in conflict with fair trade—and I recognise that fair trade businesses are often the most entrepreneurial, given the barriers that they face.
It is important that we speak with one voice in the Parliament and work together across parties and sectors to ensure that Scotland continues to lead as a fair trade nation. By doing so, we will make a lasting difference for communities that need fair trade today more than they have ever needed it.
I move amendment S6M-16923.2, to insert at end:
“; notes Scottish Fair Trade’s strategy, which includes the aim of increasing the consumption and production of Fair Trade products, and calls on the Scottish Government to continue to support Fair Trade by establishing a standard definition and measurement framework for Fair Trade in public sector procurement, embedding Fair Trade in education and lifelong learning and supporting Fair Trade and ethical supply chains in Scottish business practices.”
15:30
I am very happy to have the chance to speak in this debate. We have already heard a few examples—my guess is that we will hear a fair few more—of local fair trade organisations in every corner of the country. The fair trade movement is in every community across the country.
I echo Colin Smyth’s comments in welcoming the fact that the current generation and the next generation of representatives of the fair trade movement are with us in the Parliament and watching at home.
In my region, Glasgow, one of the most familiar names to people who seek out fair trade products and to businesses that want to put fair trade products on their shelves is Greencity Wholefoods, which is a long-standing wholesaler that has done a huge amount to improve recognition and accessibility of fair trade products. However, there are also newer businesses, including coffee roasters and chocolatiers around the country, that might not necessarily have the Fairtrade logo on their products—or they might not have it yet—but which are making significant efforts. They are going above and beyond the bare minimum of what their businesses require in order to find ways to trade fairly and to ensure, and communicate, benefits to the producers around the world with which they have links.
As other members have said, the work of a wide range of such businesses and of a great many campaigners, voluntary organisations and others has been going on for a great deal of time. That is why, in our briefing papers, we see very positive statistics that show the high level of recognition of fair trade in Scotland, the number of people in Scotland who regularly buy fair trade products and the number of community organisations and local authorities that take account of fair trade as part of their procurement.
However, it is really important that we do not relegate or consign fair trade to the category of voluntary good works, because the fair trade movement is intended to achieve much more than that. It is intended as a provocation and, as Colin Smyth said, to challenge the unfairness of conventional trade. The fair trade movement is there to ask for, demand and achieve change in the way in which the whole global trading system works, and that change is absolutely needed.
I welcome the positive work that the Scottish Government has done on fair trade, such as it is. However, when I did a little bit of preparation for the debate the other day, I assumed that I would find information on fair trade on the trade pages of the Scottish Government website, but such information is absent from those pages. I looked at “A Trading Nation”, which sets out the Scottish Government’s approach to trade policy, but mention of fair trade is entirely absent from that document.
I do not single out the Scottish Government in that regard; the UK Government and a great many other Governments around the world also want to be seen to be doing the right thing when it comes to supporting voluntarism in relation to fair trade but do not join the dots by embedding fair trade principles in trade policy itself. There is a disjoint. Fair trade is seen as something positive but, basically, as an optional policy that is separate from trade policy.
There is a great deal of scope to take a much more expansive view of fair trade by adopting a wider ethical approach. For example, some businesses deal with the issues that arise from trading in conflict zones and areas of occupation. A number of fair trade businesses go out of their way to give space, profile and priority to, for example, Palestinian products and positively avoid stocking products that are produced by those who benefit from the illegal occupation of Palestine. That wider understanding of fair trade needs to go further.
There is nothing in the Government motion or the Labour amendment that I disagree with, and I will certainly support them, but the Conservative amendment is unsupportable, and I would be disappointed if the Government and the Labour Party support it. The idea that free and fair trade are part of the same sentence entirely ignores the fact that these concepts are, at the very least, in tension with each other—I regard them as being in conflict with each other, but, at the very least, they are in tension with each other.
The idea that trade liberalisation is central to fair trade must come from the head of someone who has never heard of the concept of structural adjustment. Far too often in the history of trade policy around the world, it has been the wealthy and the powerful who have imposed trade liberalisation on the poor and developing countries, particularly in the global south, while happily using protectionism to look after their own industries at home. There has been a great deal of hypocrisy from powerful countries using free trade as an economic weapon to impose on others while protecting themselves from its harmful effects.
There is no attempt to structurally adjust those powerful countries even though we know that the way that they trade is fundamental to activities that undermine progress towards the international development goals or net zero, and now we live in the context of Trump’s trade wars, which are based on the absurd idea that wherever a trade imbalance exists, the country with a surplus is doing something abusive or unacceptable to the country with a trade deficit, which means that, essentially, selling things that other people want to buy is inherently unfair trade.
At the same time, as the cabinet secretary mentioned, international aid is being slashed, not just by the US Government but by the UK and others. When those appalling cuts to UK aid were announced, far from opposing them, the Conservatives said that they were not deep enough. The fair trade movement will be less able to achieve the things that it has achieved in recent decades in the context of the decimation of international aid and the idea that powerful countries such as the US are simply going to dictate terms to the rest of us. Some countries are standing up to that nonsense, while others, including the UK, appear to be preparing to capitulate to powerful countries such as the US.
Fair trade should not be seen merely as a voluntary concession to producers in a minority of developing countries. If we accept that the global trading system is too often unfair and harmful, we should be seeking to achieve systemic changes that always protect the poorest and most vulnerable from exploitation by wealthy countries, big business and powerful Governments.
I regret that we will not be able to unite on an amended motion if the Conservative amendment passes tonight. I hope that we are united on the value of fair trade, but we are clearly not united on the idea that it is compatible with the deregulated, race-to-the-bottom free market economy that we live in today.
I say to our guests in the gallery, who are most welcome here, that we do not really do applause in the gallery, because it is the elected members who are the participants in the proceedings. Of course, our guests are very welcome to listen to our proceedings.
I call Willie Rennie to open on behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
15:38
Presiding Officer, I am glad that you warned them before my speech, because I am sure that there would have been rapturous applause from across the gallery after they heard my rousing words.
Elements of my speech are remarkably similar to Patrick Harvie’s speech, which causes me great anxiety this afternoon.
Sound judgment.
Let us see.
The joining-the-dots bit—about the silo mentality that exists—is a fair point. On the intervention that I made on the minister about Chinese-produced solar panels, the claim is that Uyghur Muslims are being used as slave labour to produce the panels that we are using in our effort to tackle climate change in this country. That is a real conflict. There are very few countries in the world that produce solar panels, and China is one of the main producers, but we face a real moral conflict with that. It is too often the case that we parcel off the fair trade movement into a corner, and we do not think about the wider consequences of our main business.
Would Willie Rennie agree that the solar panel example that he gives is a good argument for why a systemic change approach is required? There is no way that the Scottish Government or any other Government could simply take over something like solar panel procurement and buy them on behalf of everybody. That would massively reduce people’s choice in installing the right kit in the right place. We need to prevent unfairly traded products from getting on to the market in the first place. Consumer choice cannot do that alone; it needs Government action.
On that scale of products, Government action is, of course, needed, as is a bigger-system approach. There needs to be a global recognition and understanding of where the challenges are. There is no way, I would imagine, that the Scottish Government could investigate the supply chain in China all the way down to the nth degree. However, there should at least be a due diligence process, which has been severely lacking in many cases. Some members will recall the issue of the China Railway Company No 3 Engineering Group in relation to human rights abuses in Africa. Through a subsidiary in the United Kingdom, it had offered a £10 billion deal to the Scottish Government to invest in infrastructure here. There was not even a proper due diligence process involved in that.
I would have hoped that the Government would perhaps be consistent across its fair trade policies for its procurement so as to tackle some of the deep-rooted problems. We are now going through the process of investing significantly in the ScotWind round of offshore wind farms, and many Chinese companies are interested in that work. I would hope that there would be some kind of process to check the supply chain for that. There are some challenges, and there needs to be a global effort to ensure that we understand them, but I am afraid that the silo mentality that exists now is just not adequate.
I pay credit to the many organisations across the country that have engaged in fair trade over many years, and I recognise their contribution to making Scotland a fair trade nation—from councils to companies, communities and the public sector in all parts of the country. The weaknesses that the report has identified are quite sharp, however. Noting the point that John Mason made, there is quite a low threshold for passing the test, and we should be fully engaging across the country in order to say that we are truly a fair trade nation. A small number of schools are engaged in that. The NHS comes in for particular criticism in the report. Although it has a programme, is there proper engagement in the process? That is a big question. It is a low bar for local authorities to be involved, so let us challenge ourselves to be much better, rather than just accepting that we have passed the test.
I pay particular tribute to St Andrews, which celebrates 20 years of being a Fairtrade town. The campaign there has been very effective, not just in ensuring that there is a range of products for people to buy, but in terms of good education, so that the local community can understand the challenges that we face in that area. So effective has the campaign been that the University of St Andrews is now a Fairtrade university, which is very positive.
On Murdo Fraser’s point about free trade, yes, free trade is good—I am a Liberal, and I would, of course, say that free trade is a good thing—but unfettered free trade is not a good thing. We need elements of control and a moral compass. We need to ensure that we are purchasing in a controlled way, rather than an unfettered way. Yes, free trade can drive improvements in many countries and can create opportunities, growth and jobs, but, if it is not used in the proper hands, it can be used as a weapon.
That is my second point of agreement with Patrick Harvie. President Trump is using trade as a weapon—not for the good of the globe, but for the good of his supporters in the United States. We should not support that, and we should recognise when trade is being used in those terms.
I praise all those who have made sure that Scotland is a fair trade nation. However, there is so much more work to be done, and we should not rest on our laurels. We should ensure that everybody understands the benefit of fair trade, and the Government needs to ensure that every corner of Government activity endorses those principles, as well.
15:45
It is a privilege to speak in this debate on Scotland’s status as a fair trade nation, which is an achievement that represents our unwavering commitment to fairness, social justice and global solidarity. As we all know, Scotland first became a fair trade nation in 2013, and we reaffirm that commitment today. However, let us be clear that this status is not just a title; it is a reflection of our values and a promise to do the right thing for the people around the world who produce the goods that we rely on.
For me, this is more than just a policy discussion; it is a journey that started all those years ago in the heart of the centre of the universe, if you wish—in Paisley. As members know, all roads lead to the great town of Paisley. Many years ago, the vision, commitment and determination of Provost John McDowall—a proud Paisley buddie, a Labour man and a St Mirren FC supporter; as Meatloaf said, two out of three ain’t bad—set us on the path to making Paisley a fair trade town. He recognised that, if we wanted to call ourselves a community that valued fairness and justice, we had to lead by example. Under his leadership, businesses, schools and local groups came together to back fair trade principles, ensuring that Paisley took its rightful place in the global movement for trade justice.
However, this is not just about campaigns, meetings and certificates—it is also about action on the ground. A shining example of that is Rainbow Turtle, Paisley’s fair trade shop. For more than two decades, Rainbow Turtle has been a cornerstone of our town’s retail landscape, offering fair trade goods and educating the public about ethical trade. The shop is not just a place to buy fairly sourced coffee or crafts; it is a symbol of Paisley’s commitment to doing business the right way. It has endured when many high street names have come and gone, showing that ethical retail can thrive in and support our community.
As a Renfrewshire councillor, I was proud to take the fair trade mission further. We worked to ensure that Renfrewshire became a fair trade county—why stop at just one town when the entire region could follow? We engaged with local businesses, schools and faith groups to embed fair trade into everyday decisions. That was more than about selling Fairtrade tea and coffee; it was about making ethical choices as a core part of how we operate as a community.
When I came to the Parliament, I became the chair of the cross-party group on fair trade, and I had the honour of being at the heart of Scotland’s national effort to secure fair trade nation status for the first time. I saw at first hand the dedication of campaigners, businesses and community groups that worked tirelessly to achieve that goal. Now, more than a decade later, we continue to lead the way. Basically, I am saying that it was me who did it—I was involved in absolutely everything. I am only joking. It is not just about me; it is about everyone who gets involved in the campaign.
We cannot take fair trade for granted. The world has changed, and so have the challenges that we face. Climate change, economic instability and deepening global inequalities all make fair trade more important than it has ever been. That is why Scotland must continue to be a leader not just in words but in actions. The Scottish Government has shown its commitment through initiatives such as the climate justice fund, which ensures that those in the global south who are the least responsible for climate change are not the ones paying the highest price.
However, we must go further. We must strengthen fair trade supply chains and support businesses that choose ethical sourcing and empower consumers to make informed choices.
That brings me to an area in which a massive difference can be made. Sporting goods and sportswear are massive markets, but, for years, the main manufacturers have been criticised for how they go about getting their goods to market, whether that be with regard to the almost slave wages of people in certain parts of the world or how manufacturers ensure that third-party suppliers have an ethical background. I note that it is a massive market that people outside the Parliament probably engage with regularly. It is down to our football and sporting clubs to lead the way. Work has been done on that, but it is an important issue that we need to take further.
Let us not forget the wider context. At a time when the UK Government has chosen to cut international aid, Scotland is taking a different path. We stand with producers in Malawi, Rwanda and beyond and recognise that fairness in trade is not only about economics but about dignity, human rights and a better future. Let us be clear: Scotland’s status as a fair trade nation is not a trophy to be admired from afar but a challenge to keep pushing and improving and to keep making trade work for people and not just for profit.
Much of what has been said in today’s debate has shown the way for us to do that and it has shown that we must work together. I keep coming back to the fact that we should look at key markets and at sporting goods in particular. We should look at how organisations such as local authorities, which may have sport and leisure facilities, could kit out those who work for them with more ethical goods. It is okay for us to talk about this here, but we must lead by example.
Sport is a multibillion-pound market, and I can guarantee that the two biggest German manufacturers no longer produce in Germany and that the major American manufacturers do not currently produce in America. Everything is made very cheaply and sold at massive profit, but manufacturers must give something back to the people who are producing their goods.
As someone who has seen the impact of fair trade, both locally and around Scotland, from Rainbow Turtle in Paisley to here in the Parliament, I know that we can meet the challenge and I know that Scotland can become a beacon of fairness and justice in a world that desperately needs both.
15:51
I am pleased to contribute on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, and I will be supporting the amendment in the name of Murdo Fraser. We strongly welcome the recent news that Scotland has retained its status as a fair trade nation, reflecting Scotland’s national commitment to ethical trade across the globe as we work towards an economy that is fair for everyone.
The concept of fair trade is not only welcomed across this chamber but has received widespread public support. Data from a recent report confirms that 97 per cent of Scots are aware of the concept of fair trade; that 85 per cent purchase fair trade items at least once a year, with 66 per cent purchasing at least once a month; and that almost 70 per cent of local councils agree with fair trade. Those are strong commitments, and they are vitally important.
Buying one coffee in this Parliament would count as buying something once a year, but that is not a very high bar.
I can give you the time back, Mr Stewart.
If everybody buys one coffee, that is a start. The public understand. As I have said before, we go to various events and have the option of using fair trade. If people take that up, that is a step in the right direction.
In the past couple of decades, fair trade practices have become ingrained in communities across the country. Last year, in my Mid Scotland and Fife region, Fair Trade Stirling held its 20th anniversary event. The 20-year work of that group, combined with the efforts of Stirling Council, led to the city receiving fair trade status back in 2004. As other fair trade groups across Scotland have done, Fair Trade Stirling has taken part in many important projects to promote and facilitate fair practices around the world, and that should be commended and congratulated.
Fair Trade Stirling’s work included setting up the Stirling skills centre in Malawi almost 15 years ago. The centre helps young people to develop the skills that they need to find work, and Malawi is a shining example of the potential benefits of fair trade. The Deputy Presiding Officer and I are co-conveners of the cross-party group on Malawi and regularly see the outstanding work on fair trade that is done there.
The Scottish Fair Trade Forum, which was launched in 2007, has done much work on that. Back in 2018, I was pleased to be able to sign the international fair trade charter when the forum hosted the launch of that important agreement. The charter promises to use the vision and experience of over 250 organisations around the globe to help to reshape business and trade around the world. That remains a principle that I am happy to support.
Although we can be proud of the work that has been done, much more needs to be done to ensure that Scotland and the United Kingdom are seen as world leaders on the issue, as we have heard. Scottish Fair Trade’s report highlights the “enormous effort” that will be needed to keep the fair trade movement going and enhance public awareness. We need to ensure that more people are aware of fair trade, including by embedding its importance in our education system. Many education authorities are already taking steps on the issue, and many schools take part in Fairtrade fortnight and attempt to purchase fair trade products.
However, it is important that the Scottish Government looks for opportunities to ensure that fair trade principles become commonplace in Scottish classrooms. We have heard this afternoon about what more we need to do to achieve that. One of the long-standing criteria for a fair trade nation is that there must be widespread awareness of fair trade. We now have more awareness of its importance, but we need to ensure that younger generations are actively aware of what is happening.
It is important we speak up for fair trade practices around the world, but it is also important that we highlight local and home-grown processes, as we heard from Murdo Fraser. Across Scotland, we have great examples of councils ensuring that local food producers are fully utilised, which reduces transport costs and helps to protect local jobs. However, that is still not standard practice throughout Scotland, and there are clear opportunities for the Scottish Government to show national leadership on the issue.
Our amendment recognises that
“free and fair trade is the most powerful engine for poverty reduction and global prosperity”,
and that is what we want to see. Given the current global climate and the situation that we are in, we want to highlight the opportunities that are out there, but we are in a changing world, and we need to be alive to that.
Fair trade is less about what we buy as consumers and more about who we are as a nation. I hope that this debate is an opportunity for Parliament to highlight that. Our amendment makes it clear that we, on the Conservative benches, are committed to the fair trade principles because fair trade is good for communities, individuals, the supply chain and our nation.
15:57
I join my colleagues in welcoming Scotland’s renewed status as a fair trade nation. It is not merely a badge of honour; it is a reaffirmation of who we are and the values that we choose to stand for—fairness, dignity, solidarity and justice.
I pay tribute to the fair trade campaigners, businesses and community groups across our country whose dedication has made that status possible. Among them are the inspiring members of the Peterhead and Buchan fair trade group in my Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency. That collective, which is made up of volunteers from Peterhead and from Mintlaw and New Deer in my colleague Gillian Martin’s constituency, has worked tirelessly since achieving Fairtrade status in 2012—a status that it has proudly renewed again this year.
The group’s work reaches across our communities and into the hearts of our schools. It has held fundraising stalls at school fairs, presented to assemblies and even introduced Fairtrade cotton uniforms as an option in local schools, planting the seeds of global citizenship in the minds of our young people. It shows us that fair trade is not a distant ideal but something that is woven into our everyday lives—our choices, our shops and our classrooms.
The Peterhead and Buchan fair trade group has also worked with local businesses, organising permanent fair trade displays in hardware stores and running seasonal sales and raffles to raise awareness. It has partnered with the Co-op, collaborated with Aberdeen fair trade group, presented to local organisations such as the Mintlaw women’s institute and the central Buchan rotary, and participated in national and international forums such as “Meet the Producer” and “Campaigning Together.” Its current campaign deserves special mention: collecting and sending donated tools such as drills, grinders and sewing machines to a rice co-operative in Malawi. That initiative speaks to not only the creativity of local campaigners but the deep solidarity at the heart of the fair trade movement.
Scotland has been a fair trade nation since 2013. The retention of that status in 2025 reaffirms our on-going commitment to fairness, social justice and global solidarity. It is a reminder that our small nation can make a big difference on the world stage, especially when we stand shoulder to shoulder with producers and workers in the global south.
We live in a world that is wracked by enormous challenges, such as climate change, conflict, inequality, and global health crises. Those crises disproportionately affect the very communities that fair trade seeks to support. Scotland’s response has been clear: we choose to stand in solidarity, we choose partnership over exploitation, and we choose justice over indifference.
The fair trade model is about more than just trade. It recognises the rights, dignity, and livelihoods of people throughout the supply chain, empowering farmers, workers and producers to build better lives for themselves and their communities.
That is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s international strategy. Through initiatives such as the climate justice fund, which was launched in 2012—making Scotland the first country to commit funds explicitly to climate justice—and through our partnerships with countries such as Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda and Pakistan, we continue to promote inclusive development and ethical global relationships. Scotland’s international development fund will increase to £12.8 million in 2025–26. That includes support for humanitarian emergencies and vital investment in areas such as global health and education—especially for marginalised women and girls.
At a time when global need is rising, the Scottish Government’s commitment is both morally right and strategically wise. In stark contrast, unfortunately, the UK Labour Government has chosen to slash international aid to just 0.3 per cent of gross national income—breaking a manifesto promise and turning its back on some of the world’s poorest communities. Scotland chooses another path. We choose to lead.
I believe—deeply—that, given the full powers of independence, we could go even further, by committing to the UN’s target of 0.7 per cent GNI for official development assistance and enshrining that promise in law. However, until that day comes, we must make every devolved lever count. Through our vision for trade, we apply the principles of inclusive growth, wellbeing, sustainability, net zero and good governance to every decision that we make, placing fairness and the planet at the heart of our economy.
Through grass-roots efforts such as those of the Peterhead and Buchan fair trade group, fair trade lives and breathes in our communities. Such groups remind us that global solidarity starts at home—that a stall in a school hall, a cotton uniform and a donated sewing machine are all acts of hope.
Scotland’s status as a fair trade nation is not a static accolade but a living and evolving commitment. It asks something of each of us: to advocate, to educate, to choose differently and to build a system that serves not just the fortunate but the forgotten.
We must continue to uphold that commitment. We must honour the campaigners, the producers and the promise that Scotland can be a beacon of fairness in a world that desperately needs that.
16:03
I join members in welcoming the continued recognition of Scotland as a fair trade nation. It is a testament not only to the work of campaigners and businesses that promote and stock fair trade goods but to Scotland’s role as an outward-looking global nation.
A Scottish Labour Government kick-started the process in 2007 for Scotland to be recognised as a fair trade nation. However, the history of the movement goes far beyond that. The modern fair trade movement is said to have started after world war two with an American woman called Edna Ruth Byler, who would buy lace products from women in Puerto Rico for a truly fair price and sell them to her friends. She said:
“I’m just a woman trying to help other women.”
Those simple principles of support, fairness and trade justice remain to this day.
Since then the movement has grown massively, with the UK’s own fair trade certification turning 31 this year, generating millions in premiums for producers, improving their lives, and building their communities.
Edinburgh has played a role in the fair trade movement. On George Street, in the centre of the city, sits Hadeel, a fair trade shop selling Palestinian goods and providing a source of income for artisans and farmers. The University of Edinburgh is one of Scotland’s three universities with Fairtrade status. Edinburgh itself gained Fairtrade city status in 2004.
The Edinburgh Fairtrade city steering group organises events marking Fairtrade fortnight such as the Fairtrade festival and displays in Edinburgh’s libraries. That commitment has led to Edinburgh hosting the Fair Trade Towns International conference this August, bringing together producers and campaigners from across the world to discuss the benefits of fair trade and how we can use fair trade to meet the sustainable development goals.
I have heard at first hand about the impact of fair trade through the cross-party group on Bangladesh. We heard from a representative of Community Crafts, a fair trade organisation that has operated for more than 40 years, giving marginalised women the opportunity to make a fair wage by creating products from upcycled saris. Those products are sold right here, in Edinburgh, at One World Shop, which I visited last year and which has sold only fair trade goods for more than 40 years. The representative from Community Crafts was in Scotland to find more buyers for their goods. That shows the strength of feeling towards fair trade here in Scotland, and its powerful global effects.
However, given the continued prevalence of poor working practices and exploitation in the production of the clothes that we wear, or the technology that we use every day, there is still much more to achieve. Fair trade in Bangladesh, especially, can be a powerful force for achieving climate justice. Producers in the global south can be considered to have done the least to cause the climate crisis, but they face the greatest loss from climate change. For a multinational corporation, a changing climate may mean a loss on the balance sheet, but for a small-scale farmer, it means losing their livelihood. With fair trade, producers are better able to adapt and protect their livelihood and communities.
I note the story of Colombian coffee co-operative Red Ecolsierra, which, through fair trade, was able to invest in sustainable growing practices, such as shade trees and better coffee drying. However, we must keep working to maximise the benefit of being a fair trade nation.
Colin Smyth has already discussed procurement and a standard definition, which are positive steps. We should also be looking to further encourage businesses across all sectors to adopt fair trade practices and to support them to build sustainable ethical supply chains by renewing and strengthening the Scottish businesses pledge.
I would welcome any further work to embed and encourage the principles of fair trade all across our economy. The strength of the fair trade movement in Scotland is something that we should be proud of. While much of the world seems to be turning inwards, with fair trade, we can make a positive case for co-operation and friendship.
16:09
I, too, applaud Scotland’s continued status as a fair trade nation. As we know, the principle of fair trade means that farmers and other producers in less economically developed countries should receive a fair price for the goods that they produce. As practically everyone knows, when sold in support of those aims, such products usually carry a Fairtrade label.
Sixty per cent of the fair trade market consists of food products such as coffee, tea, cocoa, honey and bananas. However, it also covers non-food commodities such as crafts, textiles and flowers. Those three items are not so often identified as products that might start their long journeys from the fields and sweatshops in countries where labour—and sometimes life—comes cheap. So much depends on businesses and us. We are at the end of a production chain that runs from growing to processing, and from there to packaging and then into our shopping baskets.
We recognise the labels on bananas and coffee, but what is often missed is the cost to poor countries of supplying garments to UK outlets. The prices of Fairtrade bananas and coffee are often on a par with those of other commercial products. However, if a T-shirt is only £2, or a jacket or dress is only £10, we should ask ourselves why it has such a low price. In these days of inflation and austerity, I realise that not everyone has the luxury of answering that question through their choices, but the culture of throwaway fashion has a lot to answer for. After all the back-breaking labour of poor workers who have been exploited, within weeks, such garments are often in landfill. Neither situation is good for people or for the planet. A few years back, several clothing retailers, including the venerable Marks and Spencer, were taken to task for what amounted to child labour producing clothing for their shops. Frankly, in some cases, the companies were simply unaware of that fact. Since that exposé of not only its own practices but those of other retailers, M and S has put in place a publicly accessible ethical trading policy.
Now, several supermarket chains from the UK, including Tesco and Sainsbury’s, have been in talks with the Fairtrade Foundation, as they want to join forces to buy Fairtrade bananas, coffee and cocoa from farmers in developing countries. A UK fair trade coalition would be the first buying coalition of its kind. It would increase the availability of fair trade products to consumers. Crucial to the establishment of such a project would be approval by the Competition and Markets Authority. The UK’s competition watchdog has recently indicated, in an informal advice note, that it does not expect to take enforcement action as a result of such a scheme, and that joint buying would have
“neutral”
or even
“positive effects on competition”,
by giving shoppers a wider choice of fair trade products.
According to Fairtrade, such a buying coalition would give supermarkets more power to resolve major issues such as child labour, living wages and deforestation. If the project proceeds and proves successful in the UK, the non-governmental organisation hopes to expand it to other markets in Europe, including Belgium and the Netherlands.
I have yet to discover where the UK stands on such an initiative, and I would welcome up-to-date information on that, as regulatory powers on consumer products are reserved to the UK Government. Although Governments and public agencies, including the Scottish Parliament, which hold large procurement budgets, can exercise choices and promote fair trade, the public have a huge impact on what happens in the fields, forests and factories across the poorer parts of the world. Such an initiative might, in some way, change the balance from the position when Great Britain exploited large parts of the world and took so much of their natural resources—parts that are now in desperate need of economic assistance. Fair trade is one way of doing that.
16:13
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate. I also thank Colin Smyth, who leads the cross-party group on fair trade, which I seek to attend as often as I can.
The focus of the debate is on fair trade around the world, especially where the richer west buys goods and services from poorer developing countries. However, as other members have mentioned, such principles should apply across the board. Fair trade should include farmers in Scotland being paid a reasonable price for the milk that they produce and our workers being paid properly for the jobs that they do. The concept of fair trade is absolutely excellent, and we should surely all support it.
We, in the richer west, should not maintain our affluent lifestyles at the expense of workers who suffer miserable conditions and who are paid minimal wages in the developing world or the global south. Many of us can easily afford to pay a little bit extra for coffee or wine, with the assurance that the farmers who grow the produce are getting a good deal so that they can work reasonable hours, live in decent housing and afford to send their children to school.
It is encouraging that fair trade products have improved over the years. For example, we get good-quality coffee in the Parliament—I remember the days when fair trade coffee was of pretty poor quality. Therefore, I congratulate those who were involved in once again achieving fair trade nation status for Scotland.
Secondly, we need to go further. It still seems to be a narrow range of products that have fair trade varieties available. According to The Grocer, there are almost 5,000 fair trade products for sale in the UK. However, I still feel that that is a restricted list. Specifically, we have not made as much progress with clothing as we might have done. There is praise in the report for the University of St Andrews shop, which supplies fair trade sweatshirts and hoodies to students, but that is clearly less common in high street fashion retailers.
In a meeting of the CPG, pupils from Corpus Christi primary school in Glasgow told us that they had worked with Koolskools and had sourced and sold fair trade uniforms, so we know that it can be done. However, from my memory of that meeting, they said that they had to go through a number of hoops to be allowed to do that. My understanding is that the procurement rules and regulations for public bodies such as councils do not always sit well with a desire to expand fair trade.
Thirdly, the fair trade system needs to be tightened up. It is definitely worth while at the moment but some questions were raised as my staff were doing research for my speech. Some figures look good on the surface, such as
“88% of local authorities have schools involved in significant Fair Trade activity.”
However, we are then told that only 6.5 per cent of Scottish schools are part of the Fairtrade schools scheme. That does not sound quite so good.
There are the 10 principles of fair trade from the World Fair Trade Organization and, although they are all good principles, some of them seem to be a bit too woolly. The principle of
“No Child Labour, No Forced Labour”
is pretty clear cut—that is good—and I accept that “Good Working Conditions” will inevitably vary from country to country, taking into account the local norms and cultures. However, other principles such as “Promote Fair Trade” and “Capacity Building” leave a lot to the imagination and a fair bit of wriggle room.
I note the recommendations in the report, some of which are for us as MSPs to take on board. For example, there is the recommendation for
“explicit inclusion of Fair Trade in legislation”
and to
“Be more prescriptive and supportive for MSP action to implement the pledge.”
The point is also made in the report that there should be better
“ways of measuring what is being implemented in constituency and local level.”
I am in broad agreement with the Labour amendment, especially the point about
“establishing a standard definition and measurement framework for Fair Trade in public sector procurement”.
I have no problem with supporting that.
However, not surprisingly, I have some reservations about the angle of the Conservative amendment, despite it being lodged by the relatively pleasant Conservative member, Murdo Fraser. [Laughter.] Free trade and fair trade are not the same thing, as Patrick Harvie pointed out earlier.
Will the member give way?
Very briefly, yes.
Do we also need a clearer definition of “relatively pleasant”?
I could go into that in more detail, but I do not think that I quite have time.
Free trade and fair trade are not the same thing. In fact, in some cases, fair trade is the opposite of free trade. Free trade says that the strong extract resources from the weak at the lowest possible price that they can get away with. Free trade says that Ukraine must surrender its mineral assets to America in order to get support to be a democracy. Free trade says that children can be sold into slavery in south Asia and elsewhere to save their families from starvation.
There are, of course, good aspects to free trade, especially if the trade is between relative equals. However, one of the reasons that we need fair trade is because free trade has not worked and the west has not historically been good at ensuring that free trade is also fair.
I welcome the fact that Scotland has renewed her status as a fair trade nation. However, I feel that, at present, the bar is quite low and that we all need to do more as individuals and organisations and as a country if we are to be serious about making trade around the world beneficial for all who are involved.
We come to the final speaker in the open debate.
16:19
I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I am proud that Scotland has maintained its fair trade nation status since achieving that in 2013. I know that the topic is incredibly important to many of my constituents, including those who are involved with Fairtrade Inverness, which is a very visible group. That makes sense, given that Inverness achieved Fairtrade city status in 2008 and has maintained it ever since. That Fairtade city status should not be confused with the far more controversial city status that we achieved eight years prior to that.
Last week, I had the pleasure of seeing artwork on display at the climate justice schools art exhibition at Inverness botanic gardens, many of which recognised the role and importance of fair trade. That display of understanding from primary schoolers across the Highlands of the intersectional inequalities that exist and of how climate change impacts some people more than others, was incredibly heartening.
I recall learning similar lessons as a child when looking at Fairtrade fortnight on a Scripture Union residential. What we discussed then about the power that individuals have really stuck with me, and I am glad to know that Highlands schools are taking the time to share that knowledge about the part that children can play throughout their lives in ensuring climate justice.
March is B corp month. Although Fairtrade and B corp certifications are different, I wanted to mention them both, as they both tie into the spirit of the debate.
There are businesses across the Highlands and Islands seeking to do the right thing—to be a positive influence on the world, to have a sustainable existence that plays its part in tackling climate change and to exert a force for good when it comes to working practices and social justice. From Prickly Thistle Scotland in the Black Isle to North Uist Distillery in the Western Isles, I am proud that my region continues to be a strong leader in sustainable, socially just businesses that have B corp and Fairtrade certification.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency hosted a reception in Parliament recently, celebrating the recent winners of the Vibes Scottish environment business awards. That included the Highland Weigh in Nairn, which is a zero-waste, ethical coffee shop and a favourite surgery spot of mine. At the reception, I heard business leaders from across Scotland discuss how Government can help them to make the right decision.
Most people who seek Fairtrade or B corp certification do so because it is the right thing to do. They do not need a better reason than that, although the satisfaction of their staff and customers, the benefits of having a good reputation and their own happiness and confidence in their impact are all common benefits. However, we must ensure that doing the right thing does not disadvantage those leaders.
Our international development work is something to be proud of, but individuals and businesses domestically can also make a huge difference themselves. I ask the Scottish Government to consider whether there is more that we can do to reward the best practice that exists in communities across Scotland.
Making use of the businesses across the Highlands and Islands that are already doing their bit has been a learning curve for me, but it was surprising to me how easy and inexpensive it is to make many better consumer choices.
When I was struggling with money, I fell into the trap of believing that making better decisions is too expensive and that shopping around required time that I did not have. I thought that people had to be rich in both money and time to change their habits. That is not true. I have saved money and found new products that I enjoy by seeking out fair trade and ethical products. My swapping to Palestinian olive oil, which has enriched a few of my go-to dishes, and laundry eggs and ensuring that the coffee and grains that I buy have the Fairtrade mark has required little time and, often, I am spending less than I would on familiar brands.
I completely understand that, if someone is suffering cash-flow issues, when every penny counts, it is easy to go for the cheapest and nearest options and not to ask any questions. However, those are all symptoms of the same problem, and the cost of not doing the right thing is greater. If it is okay for what we buy here, in Scotland, to be the product of exploitation, exploitation is okay. If it is okay for the UK to engage in unfair trade deals, it is okay for other countries to subject us to unfair treatment, too.
Fair wages for fair work is a principle that we cannot afford to neglect—either for those in the global south whom we trade with or for farmers across Scotland. Although we might frequently discuss the global south when it comes to fair trade, the impact of accepting exploitation and low pay is felt by us all. Without equality and fairness for all, there is not equality and fairness. For the people of Scotland to enjoy high-quality products, fair work and happy lives, we must be a good global citizen.
Our continued efforts on fair trade in Scotland echo our wider campaign to be a neighbourly, co-operative country that has a positive and recognised impact on the rest of the world. It is yet another example of how in Scotland, the Scottish National Party Government, although undeniably held back by not having access to the full powers of an independent country, always seeks to act as we would if we were a normal independent nation. We support and work with other countries on shared goals and principles. We play our part in influencing others and showing leadership. We push the boundaries as far as we can, proving that we are more than capable of taking on those full powers and doing even more with them as soon as the people of Scotland back us in that aim.
We now move to closing speeches.
16:25
As I expected, a number of very positive examples from right across the country have been brought up in the debate, which I think are worth celebrating. I will take a minute or two to do that, and then I will come on to the reasons why—I say this with great regret, and I want to emphasise that—it seems that Parliament will not be able to unite on a final amended motion. That is a shame.
The positive examples are worth celebrating. A couple of members started with ones from within the Parliament, including John Mason’s history of the improvement of the quality of the coffee. Another local example given was the fair trade shop in Edinburgh. There was a rare mention of Paisley from George Adam. He does not talk about his constituency nearly enough—we have all recognised that—but he finally got round to talking about Paisley. There was praise for the work of universities, including the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh. Colin Smyth told us about the cakes in—if I am reading my writing properly—Kirkcudbright. I hope that he enjoyed them.
I want to mention a couple of speeches in particular. Karen Adam gave a local example of uniforms—if I heard her right, in Peterhead. She also used a phrase that stuck with me:
“the deep solidarity at the heart of the fair trade movement”.
That was a powerful expression of what, I hope, we all want to see the global trade system move to. This is about more than just a nice optional extra that makes us feel good in the moment of buying something; it is about provocation and a systemic change.
Emma Roddick also reflected on that. She gave local examples of art that she saw at the botanics that addressed climate and intersectional injustices, but she also used a powerful phrase when she said that without “fairness for all”—and now I am paraphrasing—we will not achieve what the fair trade movement is intended to achieve.
That is the critical point that I hope we all can reflect on. Those local examples are great—they are wonderful and feel good and positive. People feel somewhat empowered by taking such actions in the face of what can often be a frighteningly disempowering world. Local examples provide leadership, but they are not an end result; they are a provocation and a demand for wider change. I come back to the phrase that Colin Smyth used at the beginning of the debate about fair trade challenging the unfairness of conventional trade. We need to accept that provocation and to respond to it by taking responsibility for addressing the systemic change that is required.
Several members have talked about public procurement, and of course there is room to improve there. The £16 billion public procurement budget has been mentioned. Although it is clear that we do not have the research that would enable us to understand what percentage of that is being spent on fairly traded products, I would be very surprised if anyone would counter a bet that that percentage is very low. I suspect that the percentage of private spend by people and businesses that goes to fair trade products is even lower.
Several people talked about the scope for fair trade to move into other categories of products. John Mason mentioned that. I have mentioned his speech a couple of times, and I want to praise it. John Mason and I profoundly disagree on certain other values in politics—areas in which he perhaps has more in common with the allegedly pleasant Murdo Fraser. However, he spoke very well in this debate and he very clearly articulated the conflict between free trade and fair trade: the freer that any business is to behave in the way that it wishes, the less fair the outcome is likely to be.
John Mason and several other members mentioned the impact on developing countries of the way that clothes are produced. We cannot change that through public procurement. There might be a few areas that we could affect, such as school or NHS uniforms, but if we really want to change the role of fair trade in the clothing sector, that is about changing a wider market, and that will not be done with a handful of ethical retailers who choose to put products on the shelves. It will require deep and fundamental change. The idea that fast fashion could ever be compatible with an approach to fair trade is ludicrous. If fair trade remains merely a choice—one of many choices alongside the unfair choices that occupy more shelf space in more outlets—it will never achieve the systemic change that is required.
At one point, I think that Alexander Stewart was reduced to defending the idea that buying a single cup of fair trade coffee in a year is a start—
It is a start.
No, it is not a start. The fair trade movement started in the 1940s. If we are going to persuade ourselves that buying a cup of coffee a year is a start, we will not achieve the kind of change that the fair trade movement provokes us to achieve. If fair trade is merely a choice, unfair trade will remain the default.
I will finish with one further comment on the Conservative amendment and by reflecting on why I am unable to support it and would be unable to support the amended motion, if that amendment were to be agreed to. It is not just about the conflation of free trade and fair trade—because those concepts are, at the very least, in tension if not in conflict. It is also because, regardless of whether we believe in a more or less well-regulated economy, a fairer one or a freer one, a large single market can help to achieve either objective. I cannot possibly support an amendment that bemoans arbitrary trade barriers from a political party that imposed and raised those arbitrary trade barriers by taking us out of the European Union and ripping up young people’s freedoms in the process.
The global trade system, as it stands, remains far too tied to the inheritance of colonial injustices. If we seek to change that and to build a fairer global trade system and a fairer world, we will have to recognise that the change that is required is deep and that it will not be done with one cup of coffee.
Neil Bibby has a similarly generous six minutes.
16:33
I am grateful for the opportunity to close the debate for Scottish Labour and to support the amendment in the name of my colleague Colin Smyth. It has been a positive, constructive and, if I may say so, relatively pleasant debate. It is clear from the speeches that there is significant support across the chamber for fair trade. It was good that, in his opening speech, the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture acknowledged the long-standing place of fair trade and Jack McConnell’s role in this Parliament.
It is also evident that there is significant support for fair trade across Scotland. We heard many positive examples of work that is being carried out to promote it. We heard powerful testimony from my colleague Foysol Choudhury, who spoke about the impact that fair trade is having in Bangladesh and how marginalised women have the opportunity to make a fair wage by creating products from upcycled saris, which are sold right here in Edinburgh.
Murdo Fraser mentioned Aberfeldy, which became the first Fairtrade town in Scotland, in 2002, and Willie Rennie mentioned St Andrews. Colin Smyth highlighted the work of Holy Cross high school in Hamilton, and I am pleased that pupils and staff from the school have joined us in the gallery and stayed for the duration of the debate—I thank them for that.
We heard many other examples from across the chamber of good work, and there are great examples in my area, too. George Adam spoke a great deal about Paisley becoming a Fairtrade town in 2003. I pay tribute, as George Adam did, to the late Provost John McDowall, who was a champion of the fair trade movement.
One of the organisations that John McDowall worked with was Rainbow Turtle, which George Adam also mentioned and which I had the pleasure of visiting earlier this year. Based in Paisley town centre, it is an excellent fair trade shop that has been operating since 2002. It was great to meet the staff and volunteers and see the variety of products that they stock and the work that they do to sell fair trade products.
I also want to highlight the work of True Origin, a wholesaler in Paisley that I also visited a few weeks ago. It works with a network of smallholder farmers and producers in the global south in order to source the finest ethical foods.
It is important to recognise all the efforts that are being made to make Scotland a fair trade nation. I echo members’ thanks to all those who have volunteered their time and played a vital role in Scotland achieving that status. As Colin Smyth and the cabinet secretary said earlier, thanks must go, in particular, to Scottish Fair Trade, which was led by former chief executive Martin Rhodes and is now led by Louise Davies.
It is also important for us to acknowledge that such work is being replicated in other parts of the United Kingdom, which is what makes us one of the biggest fair trade markets in the world. We heard from Murdo Fraser that, in 2023, £28 million was paid in premiums from Fairtrade products sold in the UK.
I have always believed in people getting a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. That is one of the main motivations that brought me into politics, and it is why, for example, I support the new deal for working people, which will strengthen employment rights and increase the national minimum wage in the UK. However, that principle must apply to fair trade internationally, too. Fair trade and Fairtrade premiums play an integral role in ensuring that farmers and workers in the developing world receive fair pay for their produce and safer working conditions.
The Co-operative Party, of which I am a member, has been and continues to be hugely supportive of fair trade. In fact, long before it was fashionable, the co-operative movement was an early adopter of fair trade products, and the Co-op was the first supermarket to stock fair trade goods. The United Nations has designated 2025 as an international year of co-operatives, and the theme is “Cooperatives Build a Better World”. I associate myself with the Scottish Co-operative Party’s belief that supporting fair trade will contribute to creating that better world.
We are right to celebrate Scotland’s efforts to promote fair trade, but, as we look to the future, we can and should do more—members across the parties called for that.
George Adam made very valid points in his speech, and I agree with him on sports equipment and the opportunity to expand Fairtrade products in that sector. Bala Sport’s footballs, which, as the Presiding Officer will know, the Scottish Parliament football team has used from time to time, are produced in Pakistan. The premium that is paid on them is used by Bala’s partners in Pakistan to provide discounted groceries for their workers. Sports bodies and clubs should do more, and some schools have purchased Fairtrade sports balls, but more can and should be done to help more schools to follow suit.
That leads me to Colin Smyth’s point about procurement. We should have a standardised definition in law of “fairly traded goods” in order to enhance transparency and accountability. Alongside that, we should consider removing existing barriers. As Colin Smyth said, £16 billion is spent on public procurement in Scotland each year, but, despite Scottish Fair Trade’s best efforts, we have little idea how much of that is spent on fair trade. I say to the cabinet secretary that if the Scottish Government is serious about the issue, it should get serious about measuring it. I hope that he will respond to those points in his closing speech.
This has been a good debate, and we are right to mark Scotland’s renewing its status as a fair trade nation, but we can and must do more to ensure that people around the world get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
Thank you, Mr Bibby. Sadly, the quality of the footballs that the Scottish Parliament team uses is not matched by the quality of the performances.
16:38
We do not want to talk about football in the chamber today, given the weekend’s events.
I was grateful to hear that John Mason considers my friend Murdo Fraser to be a “relatively pleasant” Tory, although Patrick Harvie demoted that estimation to “allegedly” pleasant Tory. I suppose that it falls to me to become the relatively unpleasant Tory in the estimation of my colleagues. I hope not, but it would not surprise me in some cases. I am not looking in any particular direction when I say that.
I thank the cabinet secretary for his really good speech to open the debate. He rightly talked about the awareness of fair trade and the reputation of our country as a fair trade nation. It was in the spirit of the debate—largely—that he quoted former First Minister Jack McConnell, or Lord McConnell, who talked about our duty to be “good neighbours” and to play our part in meeting global challenges. That is right, because Scotland has always been an outward-facing and global nation.
The cabinet secretary was right to point out that the global trading situation is deteriorating. I might come back to that point if I have time. He also commented on the work that is done through the public and private sectors working together to promote fair trade.
My colleague Murdo Fraser highlighted the level of consumer awareness of, and support for, fair trade, which is a point worth making. Alexander Stewart mentioned that 97 per cent of Scots are aware of fair trade. I do not know whether there are many things, if we are being honest, that such a high percentage of the public are aware of. That is a credit to the Scottish fair trade movement.
I say to Colin Smyth that one of the hazards of being an elected member is the enticement of too many cakes. We all feel obliged—rightly so—to taste as many baked goods as we can consume. Unfortunately, I have taken advantage of that once too often.
Colin Smyth raised the issue of a definition of fair trade, which is pertinent to the debate, because I heard some extraordinarily perverse definitions of, and very slanted perspectives on, free trade. I will come back to the issue of free trade in a moment.
Patrick Harvie’s recollection of history is very challenged. He talked about the Conservatives applauding the cuts in international aid, which, by the way, are being made in order to re-arm our country in the face of the global tensions that we have to deal with. That is now the reality. He said that the Conservatives had said that the cuts did not go far enough. In fact, it was the Conservatives who delivered the policy of spending 0.7 per cent of gross national income on aid. We kept the commitment that was made by Tony Blair to get to 0.7 per cent. That was a very important commitment that the British Government kept, regardless of the colour of the rosette of the party that was in power. Blair might have set the target, but the Conservatives delivered it.
Willie Rennie gave a disturbing speech, because he appeared to be rather too willing to agree with Patrick Harvie. I am deeply concerned for my friend Willie Rennie, so perhaps we need to catch up after the debate and have a chat.
George Adam, who is a tremendous champion for Paisley—no one could possibly deny that—mentioned sporting goods, but he did not mention St Mirren strips. I look forward to talking to him at our committee meeting on Thursday about whether his call for fair trade in sporting goods extends to St Mirren strips.
Will the member give way?
I am happy to give way to George Adam to hear that it does.
I am as predictable as ever. I agree with Stephen Kerr. During my speech, I said that sporting clubs need to lead from the front in relation to the shirts on players’ backs, which are bought by young people. They should be helping with that process and educating as part of that.
I am grateful to George Adam for making his point very clearly. That includes St Mirren Football Club, of which he is a great fan—he is perhaps the number 1 fan of St Mirren Football Club of whom I am aware.
Alexander Stewart was derided by Patrick Harvie for mentioning the importance of every step in the journey towards fair trade. I am completely flummoxed by Patrick Harvie’s attitude towards the comments of my colleague Alexander Stewart, because Alexander Stewart is absolutely right: every single step in that journey is critical. Getting more and more people to take more and more single steps is how we will achieve fair trade.
Does the member accept at least the general point that we need to raise the standard and the bar a bit more? If it is just one cup, we should be going up a bit more than that, surely.
I do not think that anyone will disagree with John Mason’s point. I am sure that we are all in favour of seeing fair trade as part of an increase in the size of the free trade basket.
I was perplexed when I listened to Karen Adam. I like her—I have known her for a while, and she is undoubtedly one of the most genuine people in this Parliament. However, to try to wheedle in references to the powers of independence when we are talking about international aid was a bit of a stretch.
Foysol Choudhury gave us a good potted history of fair trade globally, in Scotland and in Edinburgh. He specifically mentioned Bangladesh.
Christine Grahame got mixed up with her historical references when she talked about Great Britain. I think that she got us mixed up with Belgium when she was talking about the attitude of the country.
Will the member take an intervention?
I am happy to give way.
Is the member saying that the British empire did not exploit the assets of many countries that are still very impoverished? It is rather ironic that we are having to compensate—we should compensate—by fair trade, but it is the very least that we can do.
It is undeniable that there was a British empire, and it is undeniable that there were things that were good about that period of our history and there were things that are to be regretted about it. However, the kind of cover-all statement that Christine Grahame presented as historical fact in her speech was unwarranted.
John Mason introduced us to the “relatively pleasant” Tory, Murdo Fraser.
Emma Roddick is right when she says that we do not need to be rich in time and money to make good choices. People need information to make good choices, and that is exactly what the Scottish fair trade campaign is all about.
Finally, we get back to Patrick Harvie and the dichotomy that he created that it is somehow not possible to have fair and free trade. I completely refute that, because it is no exaggeration to say that free trade has done more to lift humanity out of poverty than any aid programme, subsidy or well-meaning bureaucratic intervention that has ever been devised. We must look to our own Scottish genius, Adam Smith, who gifted the world the idea of comparative advantage, which is still to this day the most powerful idea in economics and should underpin the system of global trade.
According to the World Bank, the percentage of the global population that is living in extreme poverty on less than $1.90 a day fell from almost 42 per cent in 1981 to just 9 per cent before the pandemic. That is more than 1 billion people lifted out of destitution, not through protectionism or tariffs but through trade, capitalism and enterprise. The examples that I would call on are Vietnam, where trade liberalisation helped to reduce poverty from more than 70 per cent in the 1990s to less than 6 per cent in recent years, and Ethiopia, where exports of coffee, which have been mentioned a number of times, and textiles opened the door to millions of jobs, opportunities and, crucially, dignity.
The most unfair trade practice of all is protectionism—tariffs, quotas and barriers. They do not help the poor. They keep the poor locked out. They are walls that are built not to keep danger out but to keep opportunity from flowing in. We are seeing the resurgence of that failed ideology, from the European Union’s labyrinth of agricultural tariffs to Trump’s White House’s indiscriminate use of punitive tariffs.
You need to conclude, Mr Kerr.
We must not be shy in opposing protectionism. We have seen the damage that it can do.
To conclude, I reiterate that trade is not theft. As has been said by a number of speakers, trade is co-operation. It is the peaceful exchange of value between people, nations and cultures, and it is one of the greatest achievements of civilisation.
16:49
I thank all members who joined me here today to shine a spotlight on the incredible work that is happening in their constituencies and to raise the profile of fair trade here, in Scotland. That has been fundamental to Scotland gaining and retaining its fair trade nation status.
I will begin by making the Government’s position on the amendments clear. We have had a relatively agreeable debate, with relative consensus. It is important that we aim for maximum consensus on an issue such as this. I would signal—in exactly the same way as Colin Smyth did—that, although I probably would not have drafted the Opposition parties’ amendments in exactly the way as they did, the Government is going to accept the Opposition amendments today.
On the Labour amendment, it is a fair challenge to consider issues around definitions, procurement and education. Labour states in its amendment that the Government and the Parliament should look at those and that we should be involved in a process of constant improvement. I see absolutely nothing objectionable in that.
On the Conservative amendment, I do not really want to get involved in a debate about the relative balance of free and fair trade, but I think that we should aim for maximum freedom and maximum fairness. Is that simple? No, it is not. Is it easy to achieve? No, it is not. We can be critical of any number of trading practices in any number of countries and territorial organisations and find fault in all of it.
I draw particular attention to something in the Conservative amendment that I think it was right to raise, which is the spectre of trade wars and the dangers of tariffs. We should be very concerned about that. The people who will be harmed most by that are the poorest in countries everywhere in the world. They are the ones who are hit because they pay, through the increase in costs for that which is imported. However, although I would not have chosen the exact wording in the Conservative amendment, members of my party will support it.
Clearly, I am not expecting to change the cabinet secretary’s mind on his voting intention at this late stage in the debate—he has made his decision—but would he at least acknowledge that, far from being a positive, “trade liberalisation”, which is mentioned in the Conservative amendment, has far too often been forced on developing countries and has had an effect that is the opposite of what the fair trade movement seeks to achieve? Further, will he tell us why fair trade is not referenced in the Government’s trade document “A Trading Nation”?
I agree with Patrick Harvie on the first point that he made, but I have chosen to deal with that question by saying that it is worth pursuing a balance of maximum freedom in trading arrangements that are fair. I appreciate the warnings from both history and the present day about what might be in the future if one does not get the balance right, and I agree with Patrick Harvie on that. We need to work towards that.
I was going to come to the specific point that Patrick Harvie made about the lack of an appearance of fair trade in Scottish Government trade-related documentation. He understands that trade is a reserved subject, but that is not a reason why the Scottish Government should not make more reference to fair trade online and in its documents. I will definitely take that point away, officials will take it away, and we will have a very close look at that.
There was one thing in Mr Smyth’s opening speech on behalf of the Scottish Labour Party that I noted down in particular, in relation to definitions and the law. I say directly to him that I want to take that point away and better understand what can be done there.
I was challenged on a particular subject by Willie Rennie, who is not in the chamber at the moment—actually, I see that he is: he has simply defected to the Scottish Labour Party benches for the moment. There is not a good future in that, Mr Rennie. He raised a question with me about the UK Labour Government and the purchase of solar panels, a significant number of which are produced in parts of the People’s Republic of China inhabited by the Uyghur community. I appreciate Willie Rennie’s point. I have had a look at the issue over the course of the debate, and I have already said to him privately that I want to learn more about it. These are challenges for us all. He referenced previous challenges and supply chain questions for the Scottish Government with regard to ensuring that we are doing the right thing on trade and understanding the conditions in which goods are produced and then exported to these shores. We need to be mindful of that, and I agree with him on it.
I thought that Alexander Stewart’s contribution in relation to education was sensible. It was fantastic to have had school students in the public gallery during parts of the debate. The more that we can do to encourage learning about fair trade in schools across the country, the better. We should all be supportive of that in our constituencies and regions.
Foysol Choudhury receives my praise for singling out Edinburgh, our great capital that we both have the joy of representing, as well as a country that he knows a lot about—Bangladesh—and the connections between Scotland and Bangladesh in the challenging opportunity around fair trade.
Other colleagues have spoken—Emma Roddick talked about Inverness and the Highlands; I could go on—with all contributors having much to say about what has been achieved in relation to fair trade and noting that there is more that we can do. Some of it can be done with small steps—one cup of coffee at a time—but I agree that we can aspire to do more.
It is right that, in the three-and-a-half minutes that remain for me to speak, I pay due praise, as other colleagues have done, to all those people—the small local groups, the churches and the community organisations—who have worked hard in their local areas to make a difference in the world as well as in their communities. Since the fair trade movement took hold, it has grown substantially, and it is clear that none of the enthusiasm or dedication of those involved has been lost along the way—quite the opposite.
For a long time, we have placed great value on the role of civil society in Scotland and the appetite for global citizenship in our local communities, whether in places of worship, schools or businesses, to name but a few. That local effort is an important part of how Scotland contributes globally to the delivery of the United Nations sustainable development goals. It has an important place alongside the work of Governments, Parliaments and others; that point was reflected on in a recent article in the Edinburgh Evening News ahead of this debate, which I commend all members to read. It was especially wonderful to hear about the initiatives that are being taken forward to engage more young people in fair and sustainable global issues such as fair trade. It is vital that the fair trade movement remains relevant and sustainable into the future.
At the end of the debate, I want to leave colleagues with three key messages that we are all in agreement on, regardless of how we vote at the end of our proceedings. The first is our long-standing commitment to being a good global citizen. It is an increasingly contested and volatile space for international development. Scotland is a nation that seeks to lead by example. That means standing up for the values that shape our domestic and international work, ensuring that fairness, equality and inclusion are at the heart of everything that we do and that the voices of those who are less privileged than us are heard and acted on. That is why today’s debate is so important. It is not just about what we are doing and saying in Scotland to promote fair trade; it is about amplifying the voice of the producers, workers and enterprises in the global south and standing in solidarity with them to build a fairer and more sustainable trading system.
The second message that I want to leave us all with is our steadfast commitment to delivering for our African partner countries. Our international development fund has been led by our partners to ensure that our portfolio is aligned with their national priorities to maximise impact. That has resulted in our programming focusing on often neglected and underfunded areas such as inclusive education, non-communicable diseases and tackling gender-based violence, delivered through grants rather than loans. That is key, given the debt repayment crisis that many African countries, including our partner countries, face at this time. As the world shifts and strains around us, we remain resolute in our commitment to our partners, and fair trade is a key part of that.
Lastly, I leave us all with a call to action. As I said at the start, fair trade nation status is not just a title. The assessment report challenges us to go further, not only to maintain that status in future but to set the next generation an example of what good global citizenship is and to show the important role that fair trade plays in that.
I thank members for their input today and look forward to working across the chamber to deliver for Scotland and for our partner countries.
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Point of Order