§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Solicitor-General if she will list the refurbishment projects that(a) are in progress and (b) will start within the next six months; and what action is being taken to ensure that these will procure certified timber. [59772]
§ The Solicitor-General[holding answer 11 June 2002]My own Department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, has plans to refurbish a part of the building it occupies within the next six months. This refurbishment involves painting and re-carpeting. It is unlikely that this process will involve the procurement of timber.
The Treasury Solicitor's Department has no refurbishment projects in progress. It is planned to carry out repairs and decoration works to the external street frontages of the Department's headquarters building within the next six months. The project is unlikely to involve the procurement of timber.
When timber is required, it is the Department's policy to instruct contractors that it must be obtained lawfully only from sustainable sources, and to verify that this is done.
The Crown Prosecution Service has only one refurbishment project for the period in question, at Crown House, Portsmouth, which will commence in August 2002. The Crown Prosecution Service will procure the work by competitive tender through its managing agents. The agents use the National Building Specifications as part of the standard specification and this includes the requirement to use certified timber.
The Serious Fraud Office has no refurbishment projects either in progress or due to start within the next six months.