§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action her Department has taken since July 2000 to ensure that those in receipt of grants for construction, restoration and refurbishment projects conform to Government requirements regarding timber procurement; and if she will make a statement. [67079]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Department for Culture, Media and Sport is fully aware of the importance of procuring timber from responsibly managed and sustainable sources and actively encourages all of its non-Departmental public bodies (NDPBs) to take account of the principles of sustainable development in making grants. We are currently consulting Lottery distributors on ways in which a practical link between funding, projects and sustainable development, that can be trialed and measured, can be developed. We are also in the process of mapping the environmental practices of all our NDPBs with the intention of issuing further specific guidance, as appropriate.