§ Ms ShipleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she provides on the timber procurement strategy. [74602]
§ Mr. MeacherAdvice on the timber procurement strategy is currently given in Section 3 of the Green Guide for Buyers. A copy is on the "Sustainable Development in Government" web site, which also includes other guidance on the subject. URL:http:// www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/improving/ contextf.htm.
My officials have also provided Departments with a model specification clause for inclusion in contracts for timber procurement. Ministers do however recognise that better guidance is required if buyers are to be fully equipped to resolve the complexities involved in procuring timber and timber products from legal and sustainably managed sources. This is one of the issues addressed by consultants in their report on the timber scoping study that was commissioned by Defra in October 2001 and is currently under consideration. A copy of the report is on the Tropical Forest Forum's web site. Look in Forum activities/Trade/Timber Trade at http://www.forestforum.org.uk.