Breadcrumbs
Immediate Help Needed for Wider Rural Recovery - 13 March 2001
Speaking after talks this morning with the Prime Minister and other ministers to discuss the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak on the rural economy, the government's rural advocate and chairman of the Countryside Agency Ewen Cameron said: "I fully support the establishment of the rural recovery task force, announced today. It is essential to tackle the widespread economic damage which is happening in businesses far removed from the farm gate. We have supported Nick Brown, who has led the actions to eradicate foot and mouth from British livestock, but we are clear that the impact is potentially more serious for the wider rural economy. Throughout the countryside now, thousands of businesses, from hotels to rare breed centres to village shops and pubs, are struggling to cope with lack of business as the wider public believe they cannot visit the countryside.
"The Countryside Agency will be working closely with government to ensure the task force focuses on the right issues and identifies workable solutions. We have already been working on our own proposals for a rural business recovery programme which includes:
- setting up RDA-led rapid reaction task forces for each significantly affected area equivalent to the response given upon the closure of high profile manufacturing industries
- encouraging more food processing and marketing by fast-tracking measures set out in the England Rural Development Plan
- providing extra funding to promote rural England as a holiday and visitor destination once the outbreak is over
- a time-limited gift aid scheme to encourage charitable giving to countryside and conservation charities whose dramatic loss of visitors will impact on their income and conservation work
- fast track legislation for the extension of rate relief for village shops, pubs, garages and new non-farming business on agricultural property
- and Mr Cameron urged banks to be sympathetic and support rural businesses with cash flow problems.
Mr Cameron said: "Beyond these short term measures, we believe the task force should tackle the need to develop a new role for agriculture which fits with the wider rural economy."
-ends-
Note to editors: For further information or interview with Mr Cameron contact Countryside Agency press office on 0207 340 2906 / 7 / 9
The Countryside Agency is responsible for advising government and taking action on issues relating to the social, economic and environmental well-being of the English countryside.
Tourism is worth £12 billion a year in the English countryside (£9 billion on day trips),
supports 380,000 jobs in rural England and underpins 25,000 mostly small businesses.
Some £250 million a week is now being lost to the economy (English Tourism Council).
