Softwood

Mr. Atkinson
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet representatives from the wood panel industry to discuss the lower forecasts of softwood availability.

Malcolm Wicks
Officials are meeting with the wood panel industry to discuss the Renewables Obligation (RO). A consultation on changes to the RO began on9 October 2006 and will close on 5 January 2007. The Government will consider the Forestry Commission’s report “United Kingdom: New Forecast of Softwood Availability” as part of the consultation on the RO. The consultation is available through the following link:

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