To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the new Timber Procurement Officer is at his Department. (151752)

The Department is extending the remit of the timber procurement unit in its central procurement group to tackle wider EU and international forestry objectives, as well as the ongoing development and promulgation of the UK Government’ timber procurement policy. The structure and function of the reconstituted unit will be published on DEFRA’s website on 1 October 2007. The Department will be writing to key stakeholders including the Chair of the EAC later this month detailing the team’s structure and function.