Local MP Tim Farron Champions Fairtrade Schools in Westmorland and Lonsdale

Local MP Tim Farron has today encouraged all schools in Westmorland and Lonsdale to sign up to the Fairtrade Schools scheme.

As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from 25 February to 9 March, Tim Farron MP has written to every school in the constituency to offer his help to them if they wish to begin the process to become a 'Fairtrade School'. Fairtrade hopes to have a total of 2,000 primary and 500 secondary schools fully certified as 'Fairtrade Schools' by 2009. So far 1,000 schools in the UK have registered with the scheme and Tim hopes that by highlighting the importance of Fairtrade schools in the area will be encouraged to sign up.

Tim Farron MP has also added his support to a parliamentary motion marking Fairtrade Fortnight and urging the Government to support the expansion of fair trade into new countries and products.

Commenting, Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat Spokesman for the Countryside, said:

"The growth in Fairtrade initiatives is very impressive and the efforts to improve awareness in schools are particularly important. Fairtrade is the best way for us in the UK to support poor farmers worldwide who would otherwise struggle to compete, and to earn a decent living. It is important therefore that we teach our children the benefits of Fairtrade."

"Despite huge increases in the sale of Fairtrade products in the UK, total sales in 2003 represented only 0.17% of total spending on food and drink. This highlights that there is so much more to be done and our local schools are a vital way to show all local people that we can make a difference."

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