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Rural Communities (Recession)

I think that the hon. Gentleman would generously acknowledge that in the Government's forestry policies the national forest is an exception. That project was started in the early '90s under a Conservative Government, and it has been tremendously successful. It covers 200 square miles and straddles three counties and two regions, and it has been very helpful to economic development, environmental restoration and sustaining the communities that lie within it, many of which are rural. The Government have supported that project over a 12-year period, as the hon. Gentleman's party supported it at its inception.