§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she has taken to ensure that paper and timber products purchased by her Department come from a sustainable source. [110196]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe Government, through the Green Ministers Committee of which I am a member, have issued a model framework which Departments have used as the basis for preparing their own environmental strategies. Among its key aims are the conservation of resources and minimisation of waste by reducing our reliance on virgin materials and ensuring that any products derived from wildlife—such as paper and timber—are from sustainable sources and comply with EU and international trading agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
676WOur policy statement declares:
We will seek to conserve energy and natural resources and reduce our production of waste, emissions to air and discharges to land and water".The Department for International Development monitors its performance on the above and other aspects of its operations with respect to green housekeeping and reports on progress made. As part of our continuing efforts to constantly improve our performance, an environmental management system is currently being implemented.
§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will ensure that paper and timber products purchased by her Department are independently certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as coming from a sustainable source. [110197]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe Department for International Development is currently involved with providing support, through the Natural Resources Institute and bilateral aid funded projects, for the FSC as part of its efforts to set up the certification program.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is accepted by buyers as demonstrating that timber and timber products have come from sustainably managed sources.
That said, it is not however viewed as being practicable to require that all paper and timber products purchased by this Department are independently certified by the FSC because this might discriminate against any equally valid schemes and therefore be contrary to public procurement rules.
Specifying the FSC label alone might also result in us failing to meet all our requirements, as currently only a tiny percentage of timber products are certified by the FSC.
My Department's policy statement for greening its operations states:
We will encourage our suppliers to minimise the impacts of their operations, products and services on the environment through a procurement policy based on the standards in the Government's Green Claims Code".