Memorandum submitted by the South East
England Development Agency (SEEDA) (V16)
There is a national network of RDAs which focuses
on rural issues led by EEDA and they are responding on behalf
of us all with a common and agreed view on the Government's Rural
Delivery Strategy and the questions raised by MPs during the debate
in the House of Commons.
However I would like to emphasise one point
which is particularly relevant to the South East.
SEEDA fully recognise the importance of the
rural agenda and this is reflected in the work we are already
doing. We welcome the Haskins recommendations and support the
Defra policies set out in the new Rural Strategy, and are eager
to take them forward.
However the level of resources allocated to
the South East will clearly impact on how far we can maintain
and develop the present level of rural work within the region
that is undertaken by the two agencies at present. As indicated
in the joint response a decision on the allocation of funding
between RDAs has yet to be made by Defra. Given that the single
pot available to SEEDA is already smaller both in relation to
the region's population and its area than most other RDAs, any
reduction in rural funding would be, despite our best intentions
and endeavours, inevitably result in a reduction in the work that
can be done.
17 September 2004
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