§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on how the Government's(a) sustainable development, (b) fair trade and (c) environmental objectives are being pursued in timber procurement. [131569]
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§ Mr. MorleyThe Government's timber procurement policy is actively to seek to buy timber and timber products from sustainable and legal sources. This policy encapsulates environmental and social objectives that are relevant to sustainable forest management.
Fair trade as a concept is not specifically addressed by this policy. There is no Government-wide approach to the procurement of Fairtrade products. Each Government Department is responsible for making its own decisions on such products, against the background of the Government's value for money policy, the EC procurement rules and the Department's objectives. However, the Government are committed to supporting ethical trading wherever possible and provide significant support to the Fairtrade Foundation's efforts in promoting the supply and marketing of Fairtrade products.
Central Government Departments and their agencies have been provided with a model contract clause that sets out the Government's specific requirements for legal and sustainable timber. This includes a demand for independent verification of the claims made by suppliers for the source of the timber acquired. For existing contracts Departments are discussing the policy with their contractors to raise awareness and identify opportunities for obtaining timber from assured sources wherever feasible and mutually acceptable.
Central Departments are required to report annually on their timber purchases and a summary is published in the annual report Sustainable Development in Government—http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/reports.
§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the guidance given to government officials on legal and sustainable timber procurement and on the regulatory framework. [131631]
§ Mr. MorleyGuidance on timber procurement and on the regulatory framework is available on the Government's website for sustainable development in Government—http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/improving/contextf.htm
Central Government departments and their agencies have been provided with a model contract clause that sets out the Government's specific requirements for legal and sustainable timber. The text of this clause and covering information note issued by the Office of Government Commerce in December 2002 is annexed to this reply.
The Government intends to create a central point of expertise on timber procurement (CPET) to help public sector buyers specify their requirements with more clarity and assess the credibility of supplier's claims for the sources of their timber. The CPET is planned to begin its work later this year.