APPG For Rural Services Sets Priorities For The Year Ahead

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Rural Services held its Annual General Meeting at Westminster last week. The meeting brought together MPs and Peers to agree the Group’s focus for the year ahead with the Rural Services Network continuing to provide the Secretariat for the APPG.

Following the formal appointment of officers, members held a wide-ranging discussion on the challenges facing rural communities and where the APPG could be most effective over the next 12 months.

Three core priorities were agreed. The first is fair funding for rural public services, reflecting continuing concerns about disparities in government funding and the pressure placed on rural council taxpayers. The second priority is supporting growth in the rural economy, with a particular focus on small and family-run businesses that underpin many rural areas. The third area of work will be rural resilience, including critical infrastructure such as energy networks, telecommunications and public transport, all of which are essential to the sustainability of rural communities.

These priorities will shape the APPG’s programme of meetings, evidence-gathering and engagement with Ministers and stakeholders over the coming year, with support from the Rural Services Network as Secretariat, ensuring rural issues remain firmly on the parliamentary agenda.

Find out more about the APPG for Rural Services here