Written question asked by Andy Reed (Labour) on Thursday, 10 February 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 February 2000. It was answered by Baroness Beckett (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 February 2000 on behalf of the Leader of the House of Commons.

President of the Council;Leader of the House of Commons

Question: To ask the President of the Council, what steps she has taken to ensure that paper and timber products purchased by her Department come from a sustainable source; if she will ensure that paper and timber products purchased by her Department are independently certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as coming from a sustainable source. - Including ref to 14 February 2000, 344 c357W.

Answer: Mr. Reed: To ask the President of the Council (1) what steps she has taken to ensure that paper and timber products purchased by her Department come from a sustainable source; [110190] (2) to ask the President of the Council if she will ensure that paper and timber products purchased by her Department are independently certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as coming from a sustainable source. [110191] Mrs. Beckett: The stationery products used in my Department are purchased from suppliers who use recycled paper for everything except specialist use. My Department purchases few timber products (mainly furniture) but, when it does, the policy is that the timber concerned should have been sustainably harvested. As to the certification process provided by the Forest Stewardship Council, I refer to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Ms Hughes), Official Report, 14 February 2000, column 357W.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 344 c845W; 110190;110191
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Environment protection Government departments Paper Sustainable development Timber President of the Council Forest products Forest Stewardship Council