Burstow Trades Fair at Sutton High School

12.00.00am GMT Tue 15th May 2007

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, had Fair Trade tea and cake with students at Sutton High School last Friday on a visit to learn more about the school's initiative to promote Fair Trade.

Students at Sutton High have formed a Fair Trade cooperative to promote awareness and sell Fair Trade products to students. Fair Trade goods require companies to pay above market prices and give a fair price to weaker producers who cannot otherwise get a decent price for their goods. On Thursday 1 March, the London Borough of Sutton officially became a Fair Trade borough, after efforts to encourage residents to make positive purchasing choice.

The students spent time talking to Mr Burstow about their cooperative and presented him with a set of pledge cards they had completed. The cards - on which individual students have written what they would do to support Fair Trade - will be presented at 10 Downing Street by Mr Burstow and some of the students in coming weeks.

Speaking after his visit, Paul Burstow MP said:

"It was great to see the girls taking up the challenge of Fair Trade and joining in with other initiatives being taken across the borough."

"Young people can play a great role in promoting the idea of Fair Trade to parents and other adults, helping them to change their shopping habits."