§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to phase out the use of peat compost in gardens (a) owned and (b) tended by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [110714]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions issued a Greening Operations Policy Statement in October 1999 which sets out its aims and objectives for greening its operations. The Department's policy on using materials in horticulture is to substitute all slow renewables such as peat with organic waste such as compost, manure, leaf mould, bark chipping and coir. This policy applies to all parts of the Department including its Executive Agencies and Government Offices for which DETR has property management responsibility.
DETR has specific Terms and Conditions on this issue which are included in its contracts.