§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what means the policy for purchasing timber and timber products of(a) the Department, (b)the Centre for Science Laboratory, (c) the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, (d) the Pesticides Safety Directorate, (e) the Rural Payments Agency, (f)the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, (g) the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, (h) the Forestry Commission, (i) the Countryside Agency and (j) English Nature ensure that they are obtained from legal and sustainable sources. [141333]
§ Mr. MorleyDetails of the policy for purchasing timber are published on the Sustainable Development in Government Site. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs operates in accordance with this policy by using the model contract specification clause devised by Defra on behalf of all central government departments. This clause is designed to ensure that timber and timber products from legal and sustainable sources are supplied and that contractors provide documentary evidence to prove compliance.
Defra's Estate Strategy and Services Division is responsible for all major works and estate management on the Defra estate and that of the Pesticides Safety Directorate, the Rural Payments Agency, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Adherence to the timber policy for the Department and these executive agencies falls to this central body of staff, which is fully appraised of the timber purchase policy.
The central Science Laboratory and Centre for Environmental Fisheries and Aquaculture are responsible for their own buildings and maintenance. They have also been made aware of the policy and have systems in place to ensure observance.
The Countryside Agency has confirmed that it has adopted the Government's policy on Timber Procurement for all construction and fitting-out contracts, as evidenced by the inclusion of "Sustainable Sources Only" Condition/Clause within Invitation to Tender/Contract Specification document.
386WThe Forestry Commission is the Government Department responsible for forestry policy throughout Great Britain. All the woodland it manages (over 800,000 hectares) has been independently certified as being sustainably managed. On procurement, the Commission implements Government guidance to ensure that timber and timber products it purchases are only from legal and sustainable sources and records details of all such purchases.
English Nature has confirmed that it too is seeking to purchase timber from legal and sustainable sources and that its contracts are drafted to ensure compliance with this policy.