Sitting in his limed-oak panelled office in Smith Square across from the Houses of Parliament, forestry minister Elliott Morley told TTJ this week that he was a ‘timber enthusiast’. And he thought that a large proportion of the great British public felt likewise. ‘People like living with wood, they like the feel, the look and the natural appeal,’ he said. In fact, you’d almost think that he was a front person for the wood. for good campaign, about which, by the way, he was also very positive.
Mr Morley was also full of praise for the work of the Timber Trade Federation, with which he’s had a number of meetings, and particularly about the launch of the TTF Code of Conduct. ‘It gives the industry a professional image and will raise consumer confidence in the quality of its products,’ he said.
The minister also appreciated the energy efficiency benefits of timber frame, and said the right things about illegal logging and certification too. No, the government did not favour boycotts of certain species to combat timber smuggling and, no, it would not give preference to the FSC over other bona fide certification schemes.
While not for a moment doubting that Mr Morley’s pro-timber stance is genuine, it would be naive to believe there isn’t an underlying agenda in the government’s recent focus on the sector. Sustainable construction and development are the latest buzzwords in political circles worldwide and, with international environmental summits looming, like the Johannesburg conference this autumn, governments must be seen to be green. In other words, politicians need to show they’re promoting environmentally sound industries – they need to get on board with the timber and forestry sectors.
So in Mr Morley and some of his colleagues, like Hilary Benn, we seem to have a mix of genuine personal enthusiasm and practical political interest in this industry. It’s a happy combination of which we should make the most.
