To ask the Chairman of Committees what percentage of the bananas purchased by the House of Lords Refreshment Department were fair trade in financial years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09.

The current fruit and vegetable framework supply contract commenced in April 2008. For the year 2008-09, fair trade bananas were specified in all orders placed but supplies received depended on market availability. For the years 2006-07 and 2007-08, fair trade bananas were not a standard supply specification but were delivered subject to market availability. The Refreshment Department does not have the staff resource to monitor the proportion of fair trade bananas received.