11 General conclusion on the Strategy
109. In this report
we have sought to analyse the main elements of the Government's
Rural Strategy. However, the real measure of whether the reforms
underlying the Rural Strategy and the draft Bill are working will
be their impact on the environment and local rural communities,
and those who are responsible for their services. In many parts
of the country, as we saw in the East of England, people on the
ground are getting on with the job of rural delivery and are achieving
a great deal to improve the quality of rural life and to protect
and enhance the natural environment. Central Government's activities
should show the same level of commitment as that of the people
at the cutting edge. The Government, and Defra in particular,
must not let them down.
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