“This was an excellent opportunity to present the minister with a perspective from both sectors,” said ConFor chief executive David Crichton.
“The minister has responsibility for the key policy areas of timber procurement, the England Forestry Strategy and wood fuel. We were keen to highlight the importance of these issues and to present our thinking on them,” he added.
Mr Crichton said that the minister will take action on the three policy areas in the coming months. “It is vital that he is fully briefed by our sector before making decisions which will have a significant impact on the domestic and imported wood using industries.”
John White, chief executive of the TTF, said Mr Gardiner is committed to more effective delivery of the government’s timber procurement policy.
“We expressed our support for the aims of the policy and agreed to work with the minister to better disseminate knowledge of the government’s commitment to the public sector, in particular local government,” he added.
