§ 56. Mr. Keyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received about the problems facing rural communities; and what steps he is taking to alleviate them.
§ Mrs. RumboldMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my hon. Friend the Minister for Environment, Countryside and Local Government receive numerous representations from individuals and interested organisations about the problems facing rural communities. They also meet regularly the chairman of the Development Commission, Lord Vinson. The commission has a statutory duty to advise Ministers on all matters relating to the social and economic development of rural England and to carry out measures likely to further such development.
To this effect the commission concentrates its efforts in designated "Rural Development Areas" where need is greatest. In each of these areas rural development programmes have been drawn up at the request of the commission and form a co-ordinated plan of action for all the local agencies involved as well as providing the basis for the commission's own spending programmes. These include a major advance factory building programme, grants to convert redundant buildings to workshop or craft use and through its agency COSIRA a full range of advice and assistance to small firms. The main thrust of the commission's social policies is to guide and support voluntary activity in the countryside which will contribute to community development and self-help. It also operates schemes to facilitate the provision of low-cost housing, to improve village halls, and to support village shops and rural transport services.
In recognition of the value of the commission's work the Government have increased their grant-in-aid for this year by £4 million to £28 million and similar additional resources have been announced for next year.