ILLEGAL TIMBER

Early day motion 34, tabled 13 November 2002 by Jonathan Sayeed (Conservative). Signed by 66 members.

That this House recognises the importance of tropical rainforests in the balance of the global climate and is aware of the threat posed by illegal felling; believes that Britain should not be the recipient of illegally logged timber; further believes that all timber used in Government projects should be supplied from certified sustainable sources; notes that the timber used in the refurbishment of the Cabinet Office was from Cameroon for which no recognised certification scheme exists; is concerned that the Department for International Development has also recently installed rainforest timber in its property and urges the Government to honour its pledges and cancel unsustainable timber contracts and to ensure that all suspect shipments are fully investigated and seized where appropriate.

Signatures by party: Conservative 45, Liberal Democrat 10, Labour 5, Plaid Cymru 3, DUP 1, Independent Conservative 1, UUP 1.