Creation of the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs
10. The establishment of the Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs poses challenges to the Countryside Agency's
role as advocate and voice for rural areas. The Government has
said that the new Department is intended to mark "a new era
in our approach to rural policy. It reflects the Government's
recognition that not just farming and food, but the range of economic,
social and environmental issues affecting rural England, need
to be addressed in an integrated way".[34]
The new Department is the "one Department responsible for
the creation of a sustainable rural economy".[35]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
has told us that the Department is "responsible for trying
to make sure that rural issues are properly taken into account
and that the work of the [Rural] White Paper is taken forward".[36]
The Government has also set up a Cabinet sub-committee with responsibility
for rural renewal, chaired by the Secretary of State, and "charged
with taking forward the rural agenda across Government".[37]
11. As well as potentially taking over some of the Agency's role
as rural advocate, the activities of the Department may also come
to conflict with those of the Agency. The Department is also already
a significant source of funding for rural development, and is
de facto the provider of much advice for rural communities.
Such activities seem likely to grow in future, to some extent
over-lapping and in conflict with the work of the Countryside
Agency. It seems that the Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs is intended to provide a focus for a single,
integrated approach to rural issues, and to act as an advocate
across Government for such matters. It is therefore likely that
the Department will to some extent supersede the role of the Countryside
Agency as rural advocate, and as the provider of funding and advice
to rural communities. In order to forestall future conflicts between
the Agency and the Department, and in order to allow the Agency
to continue to fulfil its objectives, its future role and position
vis-à-vis the Department, and the ways in which
the two will work together, should, as a matter of urgency, be
clarified.
Definition of 'rural'
12. An urgent task facing the Agency is to define what is meant
by 'rural'. The Agency faces two principal difficulties of definition:
the distinction between 'rural' and 'urban' areas, and the diversity
of 'rural' areas once defined. The Chief Executive of the Agency
explained to us that although work continues towards a more detailed
definition of which areas are rural and which urban,[38]
difficulties relating to the basis on which data is collected
persist.[39] In any event,
the difficulties faced by one 'rural' area may be very different
from those of another. Moreover, as the Deputy Chair of the Agency
made clear, "the interdependence between rural and urban
areas is very significant".[40]
In all of its activities the Agency depends on the development
of a clear definition of what is a 'rural' area. Such a definition
is critical also to other parts of Government, not least the new
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. We therefore
recommend that the Agency make its highest priority to define
what is a 'rural' area, and seek to ensure that other Departments
and Agencies and other public bodies adopt the same definition.
Within that overall definition the Agency should recognise the
need to categorize different types of rural areas to reflect the
different pressures they face. Final definitions should be available
by Summer 2002.
1
See Annual Report of the Work of the Committee to the Liaison
Committee, First Special Report of the Environment, Transport
and Regional Affairs Committee, HC (2000-01) 65. Back
2
The Committee's Work, Session 1999-2000, Second Special
Report of the Agriculture Committee, HC (2000-01) 117, para.5. Back
3
For a full list, see http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/agencies.asp;
there are 6 Executive Agencies, 52 non-departmental public bodies
and 7 public corporations, tribunals and other bodies. Back
4
On Wednesday 5 December 2001, published as HC (2001-02) 432. Back
5
See http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmenvfru/uc411i/uc41101.htm. Back
6
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Press Notice No.
7, 13 November 2001. Back
7
See The Countryside Agency, Fourth Report of the Environment,
Food and Regional Affairs Committee, HC (1998-99) 6; see http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmselect/cmenvtra/6/602.htm. Back
8
In respect of the Countryside Commission, under the National
Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, the Countryside
Act 1968, the Local Government Act 1974 and the Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981, and in respect of the Rural Development Commission under
the Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Act 1983. Back
9
Taken from Section 1 of the National Parks and Access to the
Countryside Act 1949 and Section 1 of the Countryside Act 1968. Back
10
Taken from Section 1 of the Miscellaneous Financial Provisions
Act 1983. Back
11
See Countryside Agency Annual Report and Accounts 1999-2000,
June 2001, HC (2001-02) 26, pp.16 and 27. Back
12
See, in particular, QQ.131 ff. Back
13
Q.142. Back
14
Q.131. Back
15
The Countryside Agency, Fourth Report of the Environment,
Food and Regional Affairs Committee, HC (1998-99) 6, para.8. Back
16
This new statutory body will focus on the social, economic
and environmental well-being of the English countryside, Countryside
Agency; see http://www.countryside.gov.uk/News/article.asp?NewsItemID=36. Back
17
Countryside Agency news article, 29 March 1999. Back
18
Tomorrow's Countryside - 2020 vision, Countryside Agency,
1999, p.3. Back
19
Q.25. Back
20
Towards Tomorrow's Countryside, p.4; see http://www.countryside.gov.uk/strategy/pdf/Strategy.pdf. Back
21
Towards Tomorrow's countryside, p.7. Back
22
Towards Tomorrow's Countryside, p.2. Back
23
Q.2. Back
24
England's Rural Future, DEFRA, December 2001, para.8. Back
25
See England's Rural Future, DEFRA, December 2001, para.8
ff. Back
26
Towards Tomorrow's Countryside, p.2. Back
27
Rural Advocate to Champion Countryside, Countryside Agency
News Article, 28 November 2000; see article on the internet at
http://www.countryside.gov.uk/News/article.asp?NewsItemID=79. Back
28
Rural Advocate to Champion Countryside, Countryside Agency
News Article, 28 November 2000. Back
29
Q.49. Back
30
England's Rural Future, DEFRA, December 2001, p.7. Back
31
Q.49. Back
32
Q.49. Back
33
Q.34. Back
34
England's Rural Future, DEFRA, December 2001, p.7. Back
35
England's Rural Future, DEFRA, December 2001, p.20. Back
36
Evidence taken on the Establishment of DEFRA and other matters
on 14 November 2001, HC (2001-02) 366-i. Back
37
England's Rural Future, DEFRA, December 2001, p.7. Back
38
Q.14. Back
39
Q.13. Back
40
Q.7. Back