To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will revise the terms of reference of the statutory consultation on the Renewables Obligation Order 2007 to take account of the Forestry Commission’s most recent figures on the peak value of softwood availability; and if he will make a statement. (107365)

A statutory consultation on the Renewables Obligation Order 2007 began on 9 October 2006. It is available in full through the following link:

http://www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page34162.html

The Government will consider the Forestry Commission’s report “United Kingdom: New Forecast of Softwood Availability” as part of the statutory consultation on the Renewables Obligation Order 2007. The consultation closes on 15 December 2006. All responses and other relevant information will be considered together at that point.