§ Mr. ReedTo ask the President of the Council (1) what steps she has taken to ensure that paper and timber products purchased by her Department come from a sustainable source; [110190]
(2) 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. [110191]
§ Mrs. BeckettThe stationery products used in my Department are purchased from suppliers who use recycled paper for everything except specialist use. My Department purchases few timber products (mainly furniture) but, when it does, the policy is that the timber concerned should have been sustainably harvested.
As to the certification process provided by the Forest Stewardship Council, I refer to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Ms Hughes) on 14 February 2000, Official Report, column 357W.