Natural England

Missed Opportunity" In Select Committee's Report On Rural White Paper - 17 May 2000

Commenting on today's publication of the Environment Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee inquiry into the Rural White Paper, Countryside Agency chairman Ewen Cameron said: "We are pleased that the select committee supports key areas of our evidence, in particular the need to: 

reinvent market towns as service hubs for their rural hinterlands 
make clear what level of services rural people and businesses can expect 
forge a new contract between farmers and society for sustainable agriculture 
value the countryside as a national asset for urban dwellers as well as rural people and 
businesses. 
But Mr Cameron expressed disappointment that the committee rejects a role for the Countryside Agency in helping to ensure a rural dimension in policy and practice. He said: "The Cabinet rural affairs committee should, of course, take the lead in overseeing 'rural proofing' but we are the government's statutory adviser on the economic, social and environmental well-being of the English countryside. We believe we are best placed to assist government in ensuring its policy objectives from all departments are met in rural areas. Close links between us and Mo Mowlam's Cabinet committee are essential in achieving that." 

Mr Cameron said: "The role of the Countryside Agency is clear. We have an interim strategy Tomorrow's countryside: 2020 vision, and look forward to the rural white paper which will enable us to put in place our full corporate strategy to drive forward the agenda for the people and places of rural England."