§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how companies are selected by the Office of Government Commerce for the list of Sustainable Timber Products and Supplier Information; how often the list is updated; how companies who would like to supply such products to Government can be added to the list; and what action will be taken if evidence becomes available that suppliers on this list are dealing in timber from(a) illegal and (b) unsustainable sources. [100577]
§ Mr. BoatengIn line with the Government commitment made in July 2000 following a statement by the Minister of the Environment, the Office of Government Commerce, including OGCbuying.solutions, is actively seeking to ensure that all timber supplied through OGCbuying.solutions contracts is from legal and sustainable sources.
To that end OGCbuying.solutions publishes on its website a list of 'OGCbuying.solutions Sustainable Furniture and Timber Products'. This provides relevant information on companies that have successfully tendered for inclusion in OGCbuying.solutions 65W framework arrangements. The current list is on its fourth revision and was last updated in January 2003. Revisions and updates are made on a periodic basis given any relevant changes in status.
The list only includes companies that have successfully tendered for inclusion in OGCbuying.solutions framework arrangements. Companies must tender for inclusion in the framework arrangements through periodic competitions that are advertised in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Should evidence become available that any company included in an OGCbuying.solutions framework arrangement has knowingly obtained timber from (a) illegal (b) unsustainable sources they would be removed from the published list.