§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amount of Brazilian mahogany has been(a) acquired and (b) specified by his Department in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997; and for what purpose. [28379]
§ Mr. StrawThere are no central records relating to the purchase of Brazilian mahogany for the Home Office. Initial inquiries suggest that none has been purchased or specified by my Department during 1996 or 1997, but this could be verified only at disproportionate cost.
It is Home Office policy to ensure that, as far as possible, wood used in building works, furniture etc. comes from sustainably managed forests. Furniture purchased through the Department's central call-off contract does not use Brazilian mahogany, and the Home Office Procurement Manual states that, where possible, building materials using unsustainably produced tropical hardwoods should be avoided.