To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what are her Department's plans for encouraging ethical and socially responsible investment in developing countries. [14116]

I am very keen to encourage and reinforce the fair trade and ethical investment consumer movements in every way possible. My department has numerous and growing contacts with groups interested in fair trade and ethical investment in developing countries. The potential of these movements to improve labour standards and environmental protection for large numbers of people in developing countries is considerable. We are assisting British Companies and NGOs to work together towards these goals.