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Economic Downturn (Unemployment)

It is incumbent on Members of Parliament to take an active role with the RDA and the Government office when their constituencies, and the businesses in them, face difficulties. That is exactly what we did with the RDA and the Government office, and we were extremely grateful for the help that we were given at a time when Honda faced great difficulties and there was a question mark in relation to some of the training that was being offered. We worked proactively. I respectfully suggest that the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome should work proactively rather than lobbing brickbats at the RDA, because it has done a great job for us in Swindon and I am sure it would do the same for him.