WOMEN'S INSTITUTE MARKETS

EDM number 1189 in 2001-02, proposed by David Laws on 24/04/2002.

That this House congratulates Women's Institute markets for providing a vital service to local communities by allowing people to buy and sell fresh, locally produced food grown in a sustainable manner; is very concerned that the registration fees for markets organised by local branches have increased 10-fold from ú25 to ú240 per year since the Financial Services Authority took over responsibility for their regulation; notes with dismay that it could force many Women's Institute markets to cease trading; further notes that the flat registration fees for the local Women's Institute branches that run markets are now the same as for large financial friendly societies; and calls upon the Financial Services Authority to significantly reduce the registration fees for Women's Institute markets.

This motion has been signed by a total of 100 MPs.