Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what bidding process has been used by the Forestry Commission in respect of granting private companies leases of up to 125 years for the building of accommodation units in public forests.

The Forestry Commission undertook an exhaustive tender and selection process in 2006 to identify a private sector partner for its existing Forest Holidays operation. This led to the formation of Forestry Holidays as an independent Limited Liability Partnership with the Camping and Caravanning Club. The business was restructured in September 2012, to form two separate companies: Forest Holidays and Camping in the Forest. Forest Holidays is now a cabin only business. The 125 year leases were an essential element in securing the investment needed for the business to succeed.