text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Public Forest Estate - rethink decision to sell - rejected
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  The majority of MPs voted against a motion which read:[1]
  
  ** This House 
  * ''believes'' that the Government's intention in the [http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/publicbodieshl.html Public Bodies Bill] to sell off up to 100% of England's public forestry estate is fundamentally unsound; 
  * ''notes'' that over 225,000 people have signed a petition against such a sell-off; 
  * ''recognises'' the valuable role that the Forestry Commission and England's forests have made to increasing woodland biodiversity and public access, with 40 million visits a year; 
  * ''further'' recognises that the total subsidy to the Forestry Commission has reduced from 35% of income in 2003-04 to 14% of income in 2010-11; 
  * ''further notes'' that the value of the ecosystems services provided by England's public forest estate is estimated to be Â£680 million a year; 
  * ''notes'' that the value of such services could increase substantially in the future through the transition to a low carbon economy as a carbon market emerges; 
  * ''notes'' that the public forest estate has been retained in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; and 
  * ''calls'' on the Government to rethink its decision on the sale of England's public forest estate in order to protect it for future generations.
  
  This was immediately followed [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2011-02-02&number=189 another vote] commending the Government for its policy.
  
  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2011-02-02a.925.0 Mary Creagh], House of Commons, 2 February 2011
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  