§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his Department's policy is in relation to departmental spending for supplies concerning the purchase of Fair Trade goods. [15216]
§ Dr. WhiteheadThe Department's procurement policy is about the achievement of value for money. The Department does not have a specific policy requiring the purchase of fair trade goods. Purchasing Officers are expected to consider each case on its merits with particular regard to the need for any products purchased to represent value for money. However, this Department does have available in the main staff restaurant fair trade beverages and confectionery and only provides fair trade beverages for official meetings. In addition, this Department's policy is to purchase timber and timber products only from sustainable and legal sources.