§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what means the policy for purchasing timber and timber products of(a) the Department, (b) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, (c) the Driving Standards Agency, (d) the Highways Agency, (e) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (f) the Vehicle and Operator Service Agency and (g) the Vehicle Certification Agency ensures that they are obtained from legal and sustainable sources. [141342]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Department's Greening Operations Policy, which also applies to its Agencies, contains the commitment to purchase only timber and timber products from sustainable and legal sources. Purchasers within the Department are reminded regularly of this commitment and provided with advice to assist them in purchasing sustainable timber; including the Office of Government Commerce Information Note 9/2002
How the timber policy is implemented across the Department depends on the scale and type of timber or timber product being purchased in each area. For some timber products such as furniture the main source of 205W supply is through centrally negotiated call-off contracts operated by either the Department or the Office of Government Commerce which contain clauses that apply the Government's timber procurement policy. Other purchases of timber or timber products are obtained through specifications and contracts which also contain clauses seeking documentary evidence that the timber provided is from legal and sustainable sources.