Rural Communities - Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Contents


10   Conclusion

245.  We have set out to assess how effective Defra and its Rural Communities Policy Unit have been at championing rural issues across Government to achieve the "fair, practical and affordable outcomes for rural residents, businesses and communities" that was set out as a target for the RCPU when its creation was announced to the House.[345] The RCPU faces a difficult task if it is to meet this target. Too often Government policy has failed to take account of the challenges that exist in providing services to a rural population that is often sparsely distributed and lacks access to basic infrastructure. Across a wide range of areas—from local government funding to access to broadband, from affordable housing to transport provision and fuel—rural areas have found themselves disadvantaged compared with their urban counterparts. On some of these issues the Government is investing heavily to address the imbalance such as in rolling out rural broadband, but in others, such as local government funding, the Government could and should do better.

246.  The demography of rural areas is changing. Young people are moving to towns and cities in increasing numbers with people of retirement age taking their place. This can present opportunities—older residents are typically more likely sit on parish councils and be involved in community projects and third sector work, for example—but the loss of people of working age and young families presents many challenges. How well Government responds to the changing demography of rural areas is crucial to ensuring their sustainability. The work of the RCPU is a vital part of this policy response.

247.  Analysis and monitoring of rural conditions is an essential function of the RCPU and how well it presents that data across government can be a crucial factor in shaping policy. Throughout this inquiry we have been impressed by the expertise and accessibility of the RCPU but we believe its impact is constrained by a lack of resources. It is disappointing the RCPU operates with significantly less resources than the CRC, from whose abolition it was partly created.

248.  The CRC had a statutory remit to act as an adviser, advocate and watchdog to Government over issues of disadvantage in rural communities. Such a focus must not be lost with its demise. As the recent Ofsted report on the achievement of the poorest children in education makes clear, areas where the most disadvantaged children are being let down by the education system are no longer deprived inner city areas; instead the focus has shifted to deprived coastal towns and rural, less populous regions of the country.[346] Oftsed chief inspector Michael Wilshaw commented at the launch of the report that:

Often they are spread thinly, as an "invisible minority" across areas that are relatively affluent. We need new policies and approaches to deal with underachievement in these areas.[347]

249.  This supports the evidence we received. Cllr Begy considered that Government needs to recognise "that there is deprivation outside of urban areas [...] we have less major, identifiable pockets of deprivation. We have that same deprivation".[348] It is encouraging to see poverty and deprivation recognised in the Rural Statement despite the lack of targeted approaches to combat them. In response to this Report Defra must set out what steps it is taking to combat poverty and deprivation in rural areas and how it is ensuring that pockets of rural deprivation that might otherwise be overlooked in official statistics are being recognised across government.

250.  Rural communities should not be seen as helpless victims whose woes can only be solved by others. Many of the most valuable initiatives to rural communities have started within communities themselves rather than as a response to government policy.[349] The Government is devolving more powers to communities to enable them to have greater influence over their future. We support these moves and believe many rural communities are well placed to respond but the Government must also ensure that those communities that may lack the confidence and capacity to help themselves are provided with the support to do so.

251.  In 2007, the CRC considered the untapped economic potential of rural areas might be worth £347 million if more policies supported rural economic development. The Government has clearly recognised this and has specific policy measures in place aimed at growing the rural economy. For those policies to be successful a number of barriers to growth need to be overcome, primarily access to finance and effective broadband. The roll-out of broadband is under-way but the impact of efforts to increase access to finance for rural businesses is less clear. The Government needs to ensure that initiatives that offer support to businesses, such as the proposed business bank and the Single Local Growth Fund, are as available to rural businesses as they are to their urban counterparts.

252.  In this Report we focus on those areas where policy intervention has been lacking or is insufficient. We do not wish to give the impression that rural areas are not wonderful places in which to live. According to the latest Countryside Living Index 31% of people in rural communities profess to 'loving' their neighbourhood compared with 16% of city dwellers. Positives for rural living include the quality of the environment, a greater sense of community and a healthier lifestyle.

253.  Rural areas have much to contribute to the financial and spiritual well-being of the country. The task for Defra and the Rural Communities Policy Unit is to ensure they have the means to achieve this. While our Report is to Defra our conclusions and recommendations are for the whole of Government. Defra should take the lead in coordinating and producing a government response that includes feedback from the relevant departments where appropriate to do so.



345   HC Deb, 1 April 2011, col 41WS Back

346   Ofsted, Unseen children: access and achievement 20 years on, June 2013 Back

347   Ofsted press release, Too many of England's poorest children continue to be let down by the education system, 20 June 2013 Back

348   Q 330 Back

349   Ev w7 [Quantera Ltd] Back


 
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Prepared 24 July 2013