GOVERNMENT MUST STOP APOLOGISING AND PUT ITS ENVIRONMENTAL HOUSE IN ORDER - DOUGHTY

The Government has apologised to the Environmental Audit Committee for its 'unconscionable delay' in responding to the Committee's report into the use of illegal timber, Buying Time for Forests.

Sue Doughty MP, Liberal Democrat Member of the Environmental Audit Committee, said:

"The Government has finally acknowledged it cannot continue to ignore Britain's environmental concerns. But now is the time for action, not apologies.

"On the issue of illegal timber, the Government's empty promises were previously exposed when Greenpeace found illegal Indonesian rainforest timber used in the construction of the new Home Office building.

"If Ministers really are sorry, they will introduce legislation to ban the import of illegal timber as a matter of urgency."