Recycled Paper (Hansard, 5 May 2004)

§ Paul Holmes
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of copying paper used by the Department in 2002–03 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained. [165671]

§ Mr. Pond
The UK Sustainable Development in Government Second Annual report shows that in the year ended 31 March 2003 recycled paper accounted for 3 per cent. of the value of desk top paper purchased by the Department for Work and Pensions. The post consumer waste element of that recycled paper was 80 per cent. or more.

§ Paul Holmes
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of paper for printed publications used by the Department in 2002–03 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained. [165672]

§ Mr. Pond
The UK Sustainable Development in Government Second Annual report shows that in the year ended 31 March 2003 recycled paper accounted for 41 per cent. of the value of paper for printed publications purchased by the Department for Work and Pensions. Subsequent information shows that these figures are inaccurate, and that the percentage of recycled paper made from post consumer waste is actually 10 per cert. We are working to identify the discrepancies in figures and progress will be reported on in the Department's annual Sustainable Development Report, and the annual Sustainable Development in Government report

§ Paul Holmes
To a the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled, with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content. [165673]
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§ Mr. Pond
The existing contract for the supply of office paper offers a mix of six different papers, of which two are recycled. An exercise is currently under way that will move the Department's office paper solely to recycled, which will have a minimum of 80 per cent. of post consumer waste, by early 2005.
Progress will be reported on in the annual Sustainable Development in Government report and in the Department's own annual Sustainable Development Report.

§ Paul Holmes
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste. [165674]

§ Mr. Pond
Procurement units within the Department for Work and Pensions have been made aware of the quick win target for the purchase of paper for printed publications.
New print contracts are currently being developed that will include options for recycled paper and progress will be reported on in the annual Sustainable Development in Government report and the Department's own annual Sustainable Development Report.

§ Paul Holmes
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what date his Department expects to attain the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that(a) all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content and (b) all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste. [165675]

§ Mr. Pond
An exercise is currently under way within the Department for Work and Pensions, which will be completed by early 2005, to move supply of core office copier paper to 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum content of 80 per cent. post consumer waste.
The Department is currently working to identify a common approach and policy, to enable us to meet the quick win targets for printed publications.
Progress on both these areas will be reported on in future Department for Work and Pensions Annual Sustainable Development Reports and the Governments Sustainable Development in Government Annual Report.