Written question asked by Lord Harper (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 July 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 July 2006. It was answered by Baroness Hodge of Barking (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 July 2006 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Timber/Coal Mining

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to support the (a) timber and (b) coal mining industries in the UK.

Answer: The information requested is as follows:(a) DTI provides a range of business support services for industry and has provided funding to the timber sector through Selective Finance for Industry for the development of a computer operated timber frame production system. We liaise closely with the key timber trade associations and raise the industry's issues and concerns across Government. In addition we support the industry's "wood for good" campaign which aims to boost wood's market share in the UK. In addition the Forestry Commission provides business support to the forestry and timber industries through the England Forest Industries Partnerships (EFIP) and Scottish Forestry Cluster. The Department for the Environment, Food and Regional Affairs has set up the Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET) to help public sector bodies and their suppliers source legally harvested timber from well-managed forests. This is a free advice service which helps to support the timber industry's response to Government demands for legal and sustainable timber.(b) The Government have provided over £220 million of state aid to the coal industry since 2000; £163 million of this was UK Coal Operating Aid paid during 2000-02, £58.3 million was Coal Investment Aid, which has been paid since 2003 and is still being drawn down.

Secondary information