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		The South West Neil is very proud to be representing his home region of the South West, where he was born and has lived all his life. The South West region includes the counties of Gloucestershire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. From June 2004, the electoral region has also included Gibraltar. The South West is a beautiful and historic part of England. Its two National Parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor, cover 1,631 square kilometres and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty cover approximately a fifth of the region. The South West is truly a region of contrast. Wiltshire, where the West Country begins is actually less than an hour from London; Dorset, bordered by the sea and almost wholly an area of outstanding natural beauty; Bristol and Bath, with centuries of history and culture. Somerset, combines the wonderful Exmoor and the levels of Sedgemoor; Devon, with two coastlines and wide open spaces; the South West Coast Path, probably England's most beautiful and diverse national trail, provides residents and visitors with an unsurpassed natural resource. The Dorset and East Devon coast (Jurassic Coast) was declared a World Heritage Site in December 2001. In fact, wherever you go in the South West of England you are never more than 50 miles form the sea, with more than 700 miles of coastline bounded by the English Channel, Atlantic Ocean and the Bristol Channel. Cornwall has a seafaring history, and is steeped in Celtic tradition, and off the coast, the delightful Scilly Isles each with its own features and attractions. Beautiful cathedrals grace cities like Salisbury, Wells, Truro and Exeter while Bath boasts famous Roman remains and Georgian splendour. Maritime history features strongly in Plymouth from where the Pilgrim Fathers, Captain Scott and Sir Francis Drake all sailed. For contemporary arts, Bristol, the largest city in the South West, is home to the wonderful Arnolfini - one of Europe's leading centres for the contemporary arts. Both farming and the fishing continue to play a vital part in both the future as well as the historic past of the region. These industries continue to play a vital role in the fabric and community of the South West. Both have suffered in recent years, and both need support to develop a prosperous and vibrant future. This unique blend ensures the South West of England is a popular destination for visitors from both the UK and overseas. As a result, the tourism sector of the South West's economy contributed £3,725 million to the region's economy in 2001. The environment is one of the richest in the UK, with over 60% of the UK's Heritage Coast, almost half the UK's designated bathing waters, and high proportions of the UK's rarest and most endangered habitats (for instance, 57% of the UK's flower rich meadows). Five million people live in the region (equivalent to 8.6% of Britain's population), and over 15 million visitors are drawn here annually by its natural, built and cultural heritage. So the region's environment is vital not just for its own sake, but because of the contribution it makes to the economy and overall quality of life in the South West.