Written question asked by Andy Reed (Labour) on Thursday, 10 February 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 10 March 2000. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Friday, 10 March 2000 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he has taken to ensure that paper and timber products purchased by his Department come from a sustainable source. - Inc ref to DETR's Green Guide for Buyers and "Selling to Government - A Green Guide for Suppliers of Goods and Services to the Northern Ireland Civil Service".

Answer: Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to ensure that paper and timber products purchased by his Department come from a sustainable source. [110155] Mr. Ingram: The Government Purchasing Agency follows the guidance issued by the Secretary of State in his Policy Statement on Green Housekeeping which closely follows the model policy statement. The Government Purchasing Agency has established contracts for the purchase of paper and timber products on behalf of the NICS, Departments, their Agencies and NDPB's. The contracts require that where virgin pulp is used that it must come from sustainably managed woodlands. More guidance is available to buyers from the DETR's Green Guide for Buyers which is available to all our staff on the Internet. The Agency also issues the booklet "Selling to Government--A Green Guide for Suppliers of Goods and Services to the Northern Ireland Civil Service" to all our tenderers, which sets out the requirements for paper and wood products in more detail.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 345 c835W; 110155
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Environment protection Government departments Paper Sustainable development Timber Northern Ireland Office Forest products Forest Stewardship Council