Rural Services Network - Rural Services Network

Stimulating economic growth is the top priority for the government, MPs have been told.

ALMOST three-quarters of rural voters feel politicians are more interested in city dwellers, suggests a poll.

A "major landmark" for the coalition government will help boost local economic growth, say ministers.

THE Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website has become part of the single GOV.UK domain.

MORE than 30 MPs have demanded a fairer share of government funding for rural local authorities.

RURAL local authorities remain worse off than their urban counterparts – despite an additional £8.5m grant.

THE countryside could be disadvantaged unless the government amends its Growth and Infrastructure Bill, rural business leaders have warned.

THE government says its £165m package of support measures unveiled in 2011 for the rural economy is bearing fruit.

A CROSS-PARTY group of MPs has called on the government to reconsider the impact its funding settlement will have on rural communities.

A NEW YEAR rebellion is to be launched against "grossly unfair" spending cuts set to "crucify" rural communities.

RURAL communities will bear the brunt of government cuts making it even harder for councils to maintain services.

THE government says it is continuing to develop new guidelines requiring departments to consider the rural impact of their policies.

RURAL residents are calling on the government to abandon its planned rise in fuel duty.

THE government should give a more robust commitment to rural communities, MPs have been told.

A RURAL strategy highlighting goals for local communities has been launched in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

ONE of England's largest rural counties has welcomed comments by a government minister who urged an end to the spread of wind farms across the country.

PARISH councils have launched an inquiry asking the question: What next for localism?

LOCAL authorities must now wait until late December to find out how much money they are allocated by the government.

PLANS to give councils greater freedom to prevent unauthorised traveller sites being set up have been unveiled by the government.

LOCAL authorities must wait longer this year to find out how much money they are allocated by the government.

RURAL leaders have given a mixed reaction to the government's Rural Statement.

THE government has unveiled its long-awaited Rural Statement, outlining its policies for the countryside.

JUNIOR Defra minister David Heath has pledged to work for a fairer deal for Britain's rural communities.

THE new ministerial team at Defra has been urged to revitalise Britain's ailing rural economy.

STRONGER links between government departments are needed to ensure policies don't discriminate against rural communities, MPs have been told.

ACADEMICS will gather this month for a major conference to debate the future of rural policy.

The government has unveiled proposals to change its funding formula to recognise the additional expense of providing services in rural areas.

THE government's rural statement, originally to be published in late spring, has been postponed until autumn.

A NUMBER of MPs have been made parliamentary patrons of the Rural Fair Share campaign.

THE government says it has no plans to increase the amount of time ministers can be quizzed by MPs on rural issues.

SUPPORTING rural communities is included in three priorities outlined by Defra's Business Plan for 2012-15.

THE government's £1.4bn regional growth fund is failing to deliver value for money, says the official financial watchdog.

FORGOTTEN rural communities must be treated more fairly, an MP has warned.

A BILL to establish new arrangements for auditing local bodies was included in the Queen's Speech.

MINISTERS are continuing to seek meetings with 17 rural networks set up as a 'hotline to the heart of government'.

MPs have called for a fairer deal from the government for rural communities.

GOVERNMENT support for rural communities is to be debated by MPs.

THREE new networks have been unveiled to help ensure government policies are rural-friendly.

THE government has unveiled the long-awaited final version of its National Planning Policy Framework.

A £15m project to boost the rural economy will create more than 3,000 jobs and 700 businesses, claims the government.

RURAL communities are unlikely to benefit from the government's latest budget, stakeholders have warned.

DEFRA is recruiting new members to five positions on the department's Civil Society Advisory Board.

THE Liberal Democrats have urged the government to abandon plans to abolish the Commission for Rural Communities.

BUSINESS and community leaders attending roadshows with government ministers are helping shape action to support rural areas.

MPs fighting for fairer rural funding have taken their case to Prime Minister David Cameron.

A GOVERNMENT map reveals the areas of England covered by Defra's new farming and rural networks.

A NEW network will give communities the chance to shape future rural policies, the government has announced.

THE government is to review the formula that helps decide how much money local authorities receive to provide rural services.

DEFRA secretary Caroline Spelman has unveiled a £165m Rural Economy Growth review billed as a package of support for the countryside.

GIVING people more say in running local services will require big changes in the attitude of London-based civil servants, warns a study.