Timber (Hansard, 27 November 2003)

§ Ms Hewitt

The Department's London headquarters estate (including SBS) operates an environmental management system certified to IS014001. This environmental management system (EMS) sets out the policy and procedure to be followed in the procurement of timber products. The EMS requires timber to be FSC or equivalent certification. All other buildings within the DTI HQ estate but outside of London are subject to the same procurement criteria.

Letter from David Smith to Mr. Barry Gardiner, dated 9 December 2003: The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your Parliamentary Question detailing by what means the policy for purchasing timber and timber products ensures that they are obtained from legal and sustainable sources. I can confirm that, where the Agency has had the need to procure timber products, it has followed the Department's strict guidelines on purchasing from qualified and certified organisations. All of the Agency's timber products are purchased from suppliers who have satisfied the Department's and the OGC's strict monitoring and inspections regime on producing goods from legal and sustainable sources.

Letter from Alison Brimelow to Mr. Barry Gardiner, dated 9 December 2003: I am replying to this parliamentary question, tabled on 28 November 2003, regarding the policy of purchasing timber and timber products. The Patent Office does not purchase timber direct from any suppliers. However, furniture is purchased through the Office of Government Commerce's (OGC) Buying Solutions Framework Agreement where it is a requirement that preferred suppliers hold the relevant Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. Where we engage the use of contractors for minor building work requirements, they must provide evidence that timber products are sourced from managed and sustainable sources. In addition, the Patent Office is presently working towards an environmental management system certified to EN ISO 14001.

Letter from Dr. J. W. Llewellyn to Mr. Barry Gardiner, dated 9 December 2003: The Secretary for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question on what means the policy for purchasing timber and timber products of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory ensures that they are obtained from legal and sustainable sources. 454W The National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) is part of the DTI HQ estate and thus is within the scope of the Department's environmental management system, which is certified to ISO 14001. This management system sets out the policy and procedure for procurement of timber products and requires FSC or equivalent certification. Furniture for NWML is purchased from Kinnarps who are an approved OGC supplier. Stationery is purchased mainly from Guilbert (UK) who hold the DTI stationery contract. Where possible products are obtained from their 'environmental benefit' range.

Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Barry Gardiner, dated 9 December 2003: I refer to your question tabled on 28 November 2003 to Patricia Hewitt regarding the use of timber and timber products. I have been asked to reply to you in relation to The Insolvency Service. Although we are not major consumers of timber products The Service's policy is always to specify to contractors and suppliers that these materials are provided from sustainable sources. We also require prospective suppliers to confirm this with their bids for our work. Timber is mainly used in office refurbishment projects whereas our office furniture these days is invariably made from melamine-faced chipbord (MFC), rather than virgin timber.

Letter from Roger Heathcote to Mr. Barry Gardiner, dated 9 December 2003: You asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what means the Department's policy for purchasing timber and timber products ensures they are obtained from legal and sustainable sources. I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS), which is an Agency of the DTI. All furniture supplies are purchased through contracts let by the Office of Government Commerce in respect of which the suppliers have already established proof of conforming with the necessary legal and sustainable requirement in respect of timber. The same requirement is built into our standard terms of contract for works services.

Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Barry Gardiner, dated 9 December 2003: I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.Companies House operates an environmental management system certified to ISO1400I. This sets out the policy and procedure to be followed in the procurement of timber products. Any purchases are therefore from Forestry Stewardship Council accredited sources.