§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many metres of mahogany or products containing it his Department has bought in the last five years; and if he will list the purposes and the costs. [19836]
§ Mr. Michael ForsythBetween September 1993 and March 1995, 132m3 of African mahogany was purchased, costing £70,000 for use in prison workshops for the construction of furniture for sale and order. The supplier purchases hardwood from controlled areas in line with Government guidelines to the timber trade.
Information is not available for the period prior to September 1993.
Home Office policy on the purchase of wood is, as far as possible, to ensure that wood used in building works and furniture comes from sustainably-managed forests.