Breadcrumbs
Rural Advocate To Champion Countryside - 28 November 2000
Ewen Cameron, chairman of the Countryside Agency, is to champion
the needs of rural England at the heart of government in a new role
as ‘rural advocate’. The Deputy Prime Minister announced today (28
November) that Mr Cameron will have direct access to the Prime
Minister and other Ministers, and will join the Cabinet Committee
of Ministers which co-ordinates rural affairs. His role will be to
tell ministers what the countryside needs from the government,
drawing on the Countryside Agency’s own extensive research
programme and practical experience.
Commenting on the government’s Rural White Paper published today,
Mr Cameron said: “This Rural White Paper recognises the wider
challenges facing those living in the countryside and the
government has shown it has been listening to rural people. This is
a good start which now needs to be translated into
action.
“I want to see every government department test it policies against
rural needs - does the policy work for or against, include or
exclude, rural people and places? This so-called rural proofing
will be a tougher test of the government’s commitment to the
countryside than setting up a new rural department. It will mean
there is no opt-out clause for any government activity. Rural
concerns are no different from urban worries on health, jobs,
services, transport, housing, education - but they need rural
solutions.”
The Agency intends to keep the government on track with delivering
the White Paper and we will report annually on its progress. Mr
Cameron said: “Ensuring a rural dimension in all policies will have
a real impact on the people who live and work in the countryside.
The test will be how swiftly government can act on its
recommendations. We will measure their success by reporting on
progress to the Cabinet Committee and the Rural Sounding Board
every year and by using our annual State of the Countryside report
as a rural barometer.”
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Mr Cameron promised the Countryside Agency would play a central
role in implementing the Rural White Paper providing new transport
solutions and helping local people take more control over local
decisions.
He said: “I am delighted that we will be able to build on our
successful transport schemes providing more and better ways of
getting to work, shops and services. Transport is consistently
cited as a major concern by rural people, and solutions are best
found at a local level.
“We will also help rural communities prepare their own town and
village plans and train parish clerks to provide better local
governance.”
The Countryside Agency will also work closely with other partners
to provide:
Ÿ ‘health checks’ and tool kits to help
regeneration of market towns;
Ÿ vital village services through a new
Community Service Fund;
Ÿ and improving the quality of the
countryside environment, especially around towns
-ends-
Note to editors:
Countryside Agency chairman Ewen Cameron or chief executive Richard
Wakeford are available for interview - contact Isobel Coy on 0207
340 2906 or (mobile) 07973 94 28 92
Further background statistics on the state of the countryside
available from above or visit website: www.countryside.gov.uk The
Countryside Agency is responsible for advising government and
taking action on the social, economic and environmental well-being
of the English countryside.
