Rural White Paper

HC Deb 19 February 1997 vol 290 c604W

Mr. Brazier

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to produce a rural White Paper for Northern Ireland. [17106]

Mr. Moss

There are no plans at present to produce a rural White Paper for Northern Ireland. Apart from the range of Government policies covering Northern Ireland as a whole, rural areas are specifically addressed by some 16 existing and policy statements. In addition, there is a series of financial programmes targeted at the economic and social revitalisation of the most disadvantaged rural areas in Northern Ireland through community projects and partnerships with local people. A recently published report commissioned by the Department of Agriculture highlighted the considerable success of the rural development programme since its launch in 1991 and it continues to serve as an effective instrument in tackling the needs of rural areas in Northern Ireland.

Existing Government policies and programmes for rural areas of Northern Ireland therefore compare very favourably with those in other parts of the UK. My Department will continue to keep abreast of policy developments affecting rural areas on the mainland and, where appropriate, will consider their adoption in Northern Ireland.