§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department plans to contribute financially to the establishment of the second phase of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber. [167628]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has lead responsibility for establishing a central point of expertise on timber procurement (CPET) and is responsible for organising the resources necessary for its operation.
In December 2003 Defra announced that as a first step the CPET would assess forest certification schemes in relation to Government contract requirements. Bids for this project have been received and are being evaluated. It is intended that this work will culminate in revised guidance that will be made public at the end of August 2004 or thereabouts.
The experience gained from operating the first phase of the CPET will help shape the plans for services in the subsequent phases. This is a new venture and the Government is concerned to ensure that the value of its output is matched with the appropriate level of investment. Defra will consult other Government Departments and other stakeholders to determine the detailed objectives for the next phase of the project, when that phase should be implemented and how the resources should be provided. The investment appraisal will consider, among other options, whether an expanded CPET service could become self-financing to some extent.
The Government remains firmly committed to the establishment of the CPET as integral to implementing its timber procurement policy and its wider efforts to tackle illegal logging and promote sustainable development in forest management.