Despite the range of businesses and interests in
rural areas, farming is still considered by some as the
“backbone”. In reality, half a million businesses unrelated to
farming are found in rural areas, but supporting infrastructure
still falls well short of urban areas.
The House of Lords Select Committee on the Rural
Economy, on Tuesday 10th July, will question academic experts in
rural policy on whether the Government is neglecting rural
businesses and areas and as a result, preventing their growth and
development.
The session will begin at 9:45am in Committee Room 1 in
the House of Lords. The witnesses include:
-
Professor Janet
Dwyer, Professor of Rural Policy, University of
Gloucestershire
-
Professor Jeremy Phillipson,
Professor of Rural Development, University of
Newcastle
Questions likely to be asked
include:
-
What Government policies have had the greatest
impact on the rural economy (for better or
worse)?
-
How does land management interact with the rural
economy and how has this relationship changed over
time?
-
What are the main barriers preventing rural
businesses from growing and what should be the Government’s top
priorities for supporting and promoting rural businesses and
the rural economy?
-
Does the Industrial Strategy pay enough attention
to the promotion of the wider rural economy, beyond food and
farming? What’s missing?
Notes to
Editors
-
The rural economy has transformed over the years
and is now dynamic and diverse, contributing substantial added
value to the country as a whole as well as to rural residents.
Rural communities are also growing, with significant migration
of all age groups from urban areas. This inquiry will explore
these challenges in more detail and consider how they can be
addressed.
