Timber Purchases (Hansard, 19 April 2004)

§ Ms Rosie Winterton

The information is as follows:Department of Health: The Department is committed to ensuring that all its purchases of timber and timber products meet the requirements of the United Kingdom Government timber procurement policy. Following publication of revised guidance to Departments on sustainable timber procurement in January 2004, the Department has revised its standard Invitation to Tender to ensure that all tenderers are aware of and comply with the policy. In addition, the Department's facilities management team monitors all purchases of timber and timber products to ensure that they meet the requirements of the policy.

Health Authorities: The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHSPASA) is actively implementing a timber compliance strategy within the National Health Service (NHS). For example, NHSPASA is working with all the suppliers on the national NHS contract for furniture to implement the Government's timber procurement policy within the NHS.

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This will ensure that the source of timber can be audited and monitored to make sure that it is from a sustainable and legal supply. Suppliers' progress is monitored on an ongoing basis, and updated information is available to the NHS on the NHSPAPSA's website.

Meat Hygiene Service (MHS): The MHS is an executive agency of the Food Standards Agency and as such is not covered by the Department's sustainable development policy. However, the MHS procurement strategy states that: the MHS will ensure that sound environmental policies are incorporated into its procurement process so that costs and benefits associated with 'green' procurement are always considered". Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA): The policies of the central Department also apply to, and have been adopted by MHRA.

NHS Estates: The policies of the central Department have been adopted by NHS Estates. Any purchase of furniture would require the supplier to give undertakings as to the source of materials used. Any purchase of new furniture would require the supplier to give undertakings as to the source of the material used.

NHS Pensions Agency: Purchases of timber are made via the Agency's facilities management contractor, who endeavours to ensure that the products are purchased from legitimate timber merchants. Actual purchases are monitored and reported within the framework for sustainable development on the Government Estate.

NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency: NHSPASA buys timber products only from suppliers that have implemented chain-of-custody systems that have been independently audited. This is a requirement of NHSPASA's IS014001 environmental management system.