§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission by what means the House's policy on purchasing timber and timber products ensures that they are obtained from legal and sustainable sources. [141339]
§ Sir Archy KirkwoodThe General Specification used for Parliamentary works includes the following clause
Sources of timber: it is the employer's policy to purchase only timber products from sustainably managed sources. When requested, the contractor must submit to the project manager documentary evidence (which has been or can be independently verified) that the timber supplied under this contract has been lawfully obtained from forests and plantations which are managed to sustain their bio-diversity, productivity and vitality and to prevent harm to other ecosystems and any indigenous or forest-dependent people.