§ 63. Mr. Macleanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation of rural development areas.
§ Mrs. RumboldRural development areas are those areas to which the Development Commission gives priority and directs most of its resources. They were designated by the Development Commission using criteria laid down by my Department and came into operation in June 1984, replacing the former special investment areas.
Within rural development areas, county committees consisting of local authority representatives, rural community councils and other local agencies, draw up rural development programmes. These are made up of a range of economic and social development projects which may extend over several years, together with an outline strategy for five to 10 years ahead. These programmes help the commission to target its resources on projects which make the best contribution to rural development.