§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is going to take to promote rural improvement in England; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveAction is being taken, where appropriate, through various programmes to improve the appearance of the countryside and to strengthen the economies of rural areas. I refer in particular to reclamation of derelict land, the wider improvements initiated in the north-west in the context of the groundwork initiatives, and grant aid administered to rurally based firms and related developments through the Development Commission and the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas. All this is additional to a wide range of other action taken by local authorities for the benefit and improvement of their areas within the framework of Government policies.