A Strong Rural Voice - Listened to by Government
The Government is committed to listening to the views, needs and concerns of rural people, businesses and communities. The Rural White Paper (2000) said it was important that Ministers should “have regular and direct contact with the main rural groups so that they know what is going on and what countryside people think”. It also established the Rural Advocate as the voice of rural people, to advise government on what was working in rural delivery, and what needed improvement.
The Rural Strategy 2004 introduced a package of new arrangements to ensure that there is “a strong rural voice - listened to by Government”. These arrangements include:
- Establishing a New Countryside Agency with a rural advocacy function to support and complement the work of the Rural Advocate - this was achieved through the creation of the Commission for Rural Communities in 2006
- Building on the Regional Rural Affairs Forums to ensure that they are fully able to represent rural people in their regions and reflect their views
- Building a strong relationship between Ministers and the chairs of the Regional Forums through regular meetings which also involve the Rural Advocate. [More Information]
These arrangements have been successful in helping to ensure that policies and programmes are more responsive, more relevant, and better meet the real needs of rural people.
Rural Climate Change Forum
A separate Rural Climate Change Forum provides a high level forum for dialogue with Government, and authoritative advice and leadership for rural stakeholders, on climate change and rural land management. See the Rural Climate Change Forum pages for further information.
Page last modified: 21 November 2007
Page published: 21 July 2004