Sorry - I was at work and only saw this about an hour ago.  However, I’ve just put out the press release below.

Best wishes

NEWS RELEASE

Date: 15^th October 2004.  Embargo: immediate

GRAYSON BACKS DACORUM FAIRTRADE GROUP

Commenting on today’s launch of the Dacorum Fairtrade Group, Hemel’s Lib Dem PPC, Dr Richard Grayson, said:

“I am delighted to back the Dacorum Fairtrade Group.  Fair trade means giving people fair payment for their labour.  That’s an important way of spreading freedom and justice through the developing world.  Many people are enslaved by the exploitation of companies in the developed world who pay them the minimum they can get away with, and all the work associated with Fairtrade is a boost for some of the world's poorest people.   I very much hope that Hemel Hempstead will become a Fairtrade Town."

Dr Grayson added:

“The Liberal Democrats have long argued for policies to promote fair trade.  Our recent policy paper, Wealth for the World, set out detailed policies on international trade and was overwhelmingly backed by our party conference this September.  In particular, the Liberal Democrats have pledged ‘to encourage initiatives such as the Ethical Trading Initiative and the Fair Trade Foundation, which aim to increase the share of products’ purchase price which flows back to the producers’.”

Notes to editors

For further details of Liberal Democrat policy on international trade, see Policy Paper 64, A World Free from Poverty, which is available on the internet at: http://www.libdems.org.uk/documents/policies/Policy_Papers/65_IntInvestment.pdf

ENDS