These positive effects are transitory, however, when local economies have insufficient permanent employment to justify a constant level of demand for new housing stock.

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In his report, Mr Laidlaw also noted constant changes of permanent secretary at the DfT and said resources were "excessively stretched due to the government's spending review and the competing pressures of other projects".

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Now, in an era of constant polling and the permanent campaign, elections no longer confer much authority on the victor.

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But the war seems more distant, the bombing and shelling an occasional interruption rather than a constant thump, gripping the stomach in a permanent spasm of fear.

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