HC Deb 03 November 2003 vol 412 cc424-5W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what form she plans the central point of expertise on Government timber procurement (CPET) will take; how it will function; and who will staff it. [134557]

Mr. Morley

Plans for a central point of expertise on timber (CPET) are not yet finalised. I will make a further statement when the key decisions have been taken.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responses her Department received to its consultations on the establishment of a central point of expertise on Government timber procurement regarding what type of central point of expertise on timber procurement should be established; and how she plans to act on these recommendations. [134558]

Mr. Morley

The concept of a central point of expertise on timber (CPET) was one of the recommendations made by consultants ERM in their scoping study report published on 6 August 2002. That report was made in the light of consultations with stakeholders, primarily at a meeting on 25 March 2002. A second consultation meeting was held on 2 September 2002 and written comments were received from various interested parties too. A record of the two meetings can be viewed on the Tropical Forest Forum's website at http://www.forestforum. org.uk/tradeb.htm

The recommendation for a CPET, which was broadly agreed by the stakeholders, suggested that the service could be provided either by a suitably qualified civil servant or by a commissioned service contract to an appropriately qualified consultant. Stakeholders generally held the view that they should be involved in the key decisions taken by a CPET to ensure transparency and a degree of independence.

Early in 2003 Defra held discussions with potential service providers to discuss how a commissioned service could be set up, how it would operate and what key outputs it would be expected to deliver. Following those discussions Defra has been considering the options available to ensure that the CPET would provide best value for money given the resources available. I will make a further statement when the key decisions have been taken.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 September 2003,Official Report, column 860W, on timber, what progress has been made in the establishment of a central point of expertise on Government timber procurement (CPET); what funding has been allocated to the CPET; and when the CPET will be operational. [134577]

Mr. Morley

Since 1 September the Government have been reviewing options for establishing a central point of expertise on timber (CPET). Decisions on funding will be made when that review is completed and the CPET will be established as soon after that as possible.