To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) suppliers and (b) brands of (i) paper and (ii) paper products his Department uses; and what his Department's policy is on the procurement of those materials. (320039)

From information held centrally the Department's contracted suppliers for (i) and (ii) are The Paper Company and Banner Business Supplies Ltd.

From information held centrally the only brands for (i) and (ii) that could be identified are 100 per cent. recycled (Post Consumer Waste) Evolve Office and Evolve Business A4 80gsm copier paper.

In the financial year 2008-9 Core DEFRA purchased a total of 45,124 reams of white A4 80gsm copier paper at an average purchase price of £2.09 excluding VAT.

DEFRA's procurement policy requires use of recycled paper and paper products that meet the Quick Wins targets set by the Government in October 2003. The only exceptions to these standards would be where recycled paper or recycled products are not available for a specific process e.g. security paper. DEFRA is giving active consideration to achieving the 100 per cent. target for all paper it buys except in cases of specific process need.