HC Deb 10 July 2002 vol 388 cc955-6W
Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement regarding the Government's objectives for the Wood for Good campaign; [68098]

(2) what guidance her Department has provided on the Forestry Commission's Wood for Good website (a) to the public and businesses to help them ensure they do not buy wood which may have come from illegal or non-sustainable sources and (b) in the promotion of certified timber. [68101]

Mr. Morley

The Wood for Good campaign is sponsored by the Forestry Commission (the Government's Department for forestry throughout Great Britain), the Northern Ireland Forestry Service, the Nordic Timber Council, the UK Sawn Wood Promoters, the Timber Trade Federation and the Forestry and Timber Association. All sponsors are committed to sustainable forest management and they encourage independent certification. The Government support the campaign's objectives, which are to "increase the consumption of wood; change perceptions about wood; encourage its use in interior and exterior design, and building; to tackle issues surrounding the use of wood; and to encourage good practice in the industry". The Forestry Commission's own website, which links to the Wood for Good website, covers issues such as illegal and non-sustainable sources of timber, and on certification.

Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding the United Kingdom Government have allocated to the Forestry Commission in each year since 1997; and how much of this allocation the Forestry Commission has dedicated to the Wood for Good campaign in each of the years the campaign will be running. [68102]

Mr. Morley

The funds voted to the Forestry Commission each year since 1997 are given in the table.

£000
1997–98 England/Scotland/Wales and GB activities 52,426
1998–99 England/Scotland/Wales and GB activities 51,325
1999–2000 England/Scotland/Wales and GB activities 176,115
2000–01 England/Wales and GB activities 280,165
2001–02 England and GB activities 70,608
2002–03 England and GB activities 59,793
1Scottish Parliament responsible for funding Forestry Commission activities in Scotland from 1 July 1999.
2National Assembly for Wales responsible for funding Forestry Commission activities in Wales from 1 April 2001.

The Forestry Commission's contribution to the Wood for Good campaign is £250,000 in 2000–01, £205,000 in 2001–02, £125,000 in 2002–03 and £125,000 in 2003–04.