Meeting of the Parliament 25 March 2025
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.”
15:30Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.