Mr Gove was accompanied by local MP Stephen Kerr, who also chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the wood panel industry.
Norbord and other leading manufacturers who are members of the Wood Panel Industries’ Federation (WPIF) have warned that a major government rethink is required to help the industry satisfy demand for its products.
A recent report carried out on behalf of the APPG for the wood panel industry concluded that wood availability will decrease dramatically within the next decade.
“He [Mr Gove] certainly took on board our message that the UK’s wood supply is now at a critical point due to demand from heavily subsidised biomass for energy,” said Steve Roebuck, director of environmental, health and safety at Norbord.