HC Deb 16 May 2002 vol 385 cc759-60W
Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library certificates showing that timber used for the doors, doorframes and window frames in the refurbishment of her Department's buildings came from a certified, sustainable source. [55260]

Clare Short

Timber for the doors and doorframes (no wooden window frames were fitted) were supplied by Shadbolt and Sons. Shadbolts are founder members of the WWF 1995+ group, which is one of the groups listed under the current DEFRA guidance "Greening Government Operations—Green Guide for Buyers, Action Sheet on Wood". The group has the target to source all its timbers from sources with certified sustainable management, and works closely with the Forest Stewardship Council. DFID's requirement followed the BREEAM guidelines at the time, that softwood and temperate hardwoods were to be from sustainable sources, but certificates were not requested. The Sapele veneers used in this project were not certified as they came from existing stocks obtained in 1983, and were supplied with the consent of WWF.