HC Deb 13 February 2002 vol 380 cc366-7W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action was taken by her Department to ensure that timber procured for the recent refurbishment of the International Development building on 1 Palace street was sourced(a) sustainably and (b) legally. [35678]

Hilary Benn

The contractual documentation as specified by my Department for the refurbishment work on 1 Palace street, included our standards for the use of sustainable sources of hardwood, timber products and plywood. This required all such procurement to be carried out in accordance with standards set by the Building Research Environmental Evaluation Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) in relation to materials and the environmental implications of materials selection.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent on timber for the recent refurbishment of the International Development building on 1 Palace Street. [35677]

Hilary Benn

Approximately £350,000 was spent on timber as part of this refurbishment.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much certified timber has been used in the recent refurbishment of the International Development building on 1 Palace Street; and what proportion of total timber purchased for this refurbishment this represents. [35676]

Hilary Benn

The following volumes of timber were used in the project.

Volume
Softwood carcassing timber 6,000m
Softwood plaster grounds 2,500m
Veneered doors 590
Softwood timber battens 2,800m
Protection boards 1,250
Battens to protection 8,000m
Miscellaneous timber 1,100m

Of the above, around 98 per cent. was certified. The remainder represents a small number of hardwood doors, which we were required to use within the Grade II listed section of the building under the relevant planning regulations. These doors were obtained from existing stocks from managed forests.