To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department’s policy is on the use of fair trade goods (a) in staff catering facilities and (b) at official departmental functions and meetings; and if he will make a statement. (183855)

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) the then Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw) gave to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Andrew George) on 13 February 2006, Official Report, column 1504W. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) policy on the procurement of fair trade produce is to ensure that fair trade produce is available to purchase and the FCO will explore options to expand the variety of fair trade options offered for sale, within the boundaries of good procurement practice—including value for money. Tea and coffee provided for official functions are fair trade.