Lords to quiz rural representatives on services, infrastructure and funding

The Committee will explore a number of issues including what more the Government can do to support communities looking to bring back or retain access to services and local amenities; whether the rural economy is getting enough attention in the development of post-Brexit policy; and  how best to tackle rural crime which cost more than £44.7 million in 2017.

The Committee will begin taking evidence at 9.45am and will question:

• The Rt Rev. the Lord Bishop of St Albans, President, Rural Coalition
• Margaret Clark CBE, Chair, Rural Coalition
• Tim Bonner, Chief Executive, Countryside Alliance
• Sarah Lee, Head of Policy, Countryside Alliance

At 10.45am the Committee will question:

• Graham Biggs MBE, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network
• David Fursdon, Lord Lieutenant of Devon

The evidence session will be held in Committee room 1 in the House of Lords. Questions the Committee are likely to ask include:

• What principles should underpin the UK Shared Prosperity Fund? What would make the SPF effective for rural areas? How might funding from the SPF be best allocated?
• How would you rate the work of Local Enterprise Partnerships? Do you think proposals for change put forward in the recent LEP review will meet rural needs?
• What role does the voluntary and community sector play in delivery of rural services?
• Is enough being done to ensure that rural areas are not left behind with the Government’s strategy on extending full fibre broadband and creating 5G mobile networks?