Breadcrumbs
Checklist Will Help Government Departments Think Rural - 24 April 2001
To help policy makers take account of the rural dimension in all new government policies, the Rural White Paper announced the Countryside Agency was preparing a 'rural proofing' checklist - this was unveiled today (Tuesday 24 April).
Ewen Cameron said: "Policies tend to be developed from the point of view of the majority, which results in policy makers adopting an urban perspective and urban solutions to problems. This is not deliberate, but at best it means that the special circumstances of rural areas are overlooked and at worst that those who live and work in the countryside lose out, or are adversely affected by policies and programmes which do not reflect their needs.
"The government's Rural White Paper, published in November 2000, charged each government department with rural proofing its policies and with reporting annually to the Cabinet Committee on rural affairs on how successful they have been. The Countryside Agency has produced this checklist to help policy makers meet this challenge, but it is more than just a process. If it works, it will mean that the quality of life in the countryside will be better for those who live there, work there or visit it. Recent events have highlighted the need for a greater understanding and awareness of how the countryside operates. Getting the policies right, across the board, will be even more important if the countryside is to recover from the current serious situation it faces."
Environment Minister Michael Meacher said: "The Rural White Paper committed the Government to think rural across all its policies. This checklist, and the help the Countryside Agency can offer, will play an important part in mainstreaming rural thinking across government."
The checklist is divided into 14 distinctive rural characteristics which ought to be considered by those designing new government policies. These include:
- few service outlets, such as libraries or job centres, so different ways of delivering services to rural people may need to be used;
- predominance of very small firms within rural economies, so consideration needs to be given to whether a new policy will benefit or hinder smaller businesses;
- scattered pockets of need make it harder and more expensive to target regeneration policies and other policies tackling social exclusion;
- the quality and character of the landscape could be affected, for example by an insensitive planning policy.
The rural proofing checklist is available from Countryside Agency Publications, PO Box 125, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7EP Tel: 0870 120 6466 or at www.countryside.gov.uk
- ends -
Notes to editors
The Countryside Agency is responsible for advising government and taking action on issues affecting the social, economic and environmentawell being of the English countryside.
