Hywel Francis

Labour Party | Aberavon

Local MP Welcomes Fairtrade Plans

Council Leader, Cllr Derek Vaughan, and Dr Hywel Francis MP, enjoy a cup of fairtrade coffee

Aberavon MP, Dr Hywel Francis, has congratulated Council Leader, Cllr Derek Vaughan, on plans to make Neath Port Talbot a ‘fairtrade’ county borough.

 The ‘fairtrade town’ scheme supports the Fairtrade Foundation’s aim to tackle poverty by enabling disadvantaged producers from poor countries to get a better deal by ensuring they get a fair price for their products.

Fairtrade products include bananas, coffee, cocoa, sugar, honey, tea and tropical fruits.

To achieve ‘fairtrade town’ status, the council will have to pass a resolution to support fairtrade, as well as encourage work places such as offices, supermarkets and health shops to use and sell fairtrade products. NPTCBC has already agreed to sell fairtrade products in its canteens.

The council hopes to achieve fairtrade status later this month to coincide with ‘Fairtrade Fortnight’ (26th Feb – 11th March), and are already organising a series of events to promote fairtrade throughout the county borough.

Dr Francis said,

“I congratulate Neath Port Talbot CBC on their firm commitment to fairtrade. Fairtrade makes a real difference to the lives of producers in the developing world, and by committing to support it, NPTCBC are helping to tackle poverty while promoting sustainable development for disadvantaged producers.”