TEN years of York supporting fair trade across the world has been celebrated in the House of Commons.

York Central MP Hugh Bayley tabled an early day motion to recognise a decade of York being a Fairtrade city, praising the York Fair Trade Forum and the role played by local shops, schools, businesses and universities.

When the York Fairtrade City campaign began in March 2003, Mr Bayley wrote to companies and organisations across York to encourage them to serve Fairtrade products in their dining halls and canteen.

Fairtrade City status was declared the following March, and Mr Bayley said: “This has only been made possible through businesses, schools and universities supporting the initiative, as well as the consistent work York Fair Trade Forum does to make people aware of Fairtrade.”

“However, it is important to encourage even more businesses and organisations in York to promote fairly-traded coffee, tea, biscuits and other products, which helps to ensure farmers and other producers receive a fair price for the goods they produce.”