January 2026

English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Ahead of Committee stage, peers debated the Bill in the House of Lords, focusing on its overall purpose and the scope of powers proposed for new strategic authorities.

Much of the discussion centred on whether the Bill delivers genuine devolution, or whether it risks centralising decision-making while presenting it as local empowerment. Peers raised concerns about the absence of clear protections for local consent, sustainable council finances and adult social care, alongside questions about whether local government is being treated primarily as a delivery arm of central government rather than as a democratic place-shaping institution. Several contributors highlighted the lack of fiscal devolution and warned that structural reform without adequate funding could deepen pressures on councils, particularly in areas already facing higher costs and service demand.

As anticipated in earlier debate, several amendments sought to strengthen recognition of place-based needs within the Bill. These included proposals relating to rural affairs and a duty to consider the needs of rural communities, reflecting concerns that devolution arrangements must properly account for rural circumstances, service delivery challenges and geographic inequality.

In response, the Minister argued that the Bill provides a flexible framework intended to enable locally determined priorities, with broad areas of competence designed to allow place-based considerations to be addressed. However, peers from across the House indicated that further clarity and safeguards may be required as the Bill progresses through Committee stage.

Read the full debate transcript here.

Questions Raised On Future Of Digital Terrestrial Television

In two related House of Lords written questions, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick asked about the potential impact of switching off digital terrestrial television on viewers in Northern Ireland, including access to UK and Irish public service broadcasting and the effects on older people, disabled people and low-income households.

Responding for the Government, Baroness Twycross said work is under way to assess the future of TV distribution beyond 2034 and confirmed that the Rural Services Network was among organisations contributing to stakeholder discussions, alongside the Digital Poverty Alliance. She stated that close consideration will be given to the impact of any changes on vulnerable audiences before decisions are made.

Read the Parliamentary Questions and answers here and here.

Committee Report Examines The First 1,000 Days Of Life

The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee has published a new report, examining how effectively England is supporting children and families during the critical period from conception to age two.

Read more here.

Housing, Communities And Local Government – Oral Questions

Several issues of relevance to rural communities were raised during Housing, Communities and Local Government questions in the House of Commons.

Rural Housing Targets And Affordability

Damian Hinds MP highlighted concerns that the housing affordability methodology has led to very large increases in housing targets in rural areas, including a doubling in parts of rural Hampshire. He warned that the formula may unintentionally skew the type of housing being delivered in rural communities. The Secretary of State confirmed there are no plans to change the methodology but said he would consider the specific concerns raised and respond in writing.

Social And Affordable Housing In Rural Areas

During questions on social and affordable housing in Banbury and the wider Cherwell district, Calum Miller MP explicitly asked whether national programmes would properly reflect the higher costs and delivery challenges of rural housing, so that people can remain in their communities rather than being displaced into nearby towns.

The Minister confirmed that the Government’s £39 billion social and affordable homes programme includes flexibility for rural housing, recognising that it can be more difficult and costly to deliver. He also pointed to proposed changes in the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) intended to strengthen provision for rural affordable housing.

Affordable Housing In Rural Villages

In Topical Questions, Peter Prinsley MP raised concerns about the lack of affordable housing in rural villages and the long-term sustainability of village communities. The Secretary of State said recent planning reforms would give rural authorities greater flexibility to require affordable housing on smaller sites, alongside access to the new social and affordable homes programme.

Read the full session transcript here.

Lords Report Warns UK Is Unprepared For An Ageing Society

A new report from the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee has warned that the UK is significantly underprepared for the economic and social impacts of an ageing population.

Read more here.

Rural Communities: Opposition Day Debate

A wide-ranging Opposition Day debate focused on the state of rural communities, rural services and the rural economy. The motion raised concerns about changes to funding for rural areas, pressures on rural businesses and farms, and the cumulative impact of policy decisions on the rural way of life.

Opposition speakers highlighted challenges facing market towns and villages, including the closure of rural businesses, rising operating costs, and pressures on agriculture and land-based industries. Concerns were raised about the removal of specific rural funding streams, the sustainability of local services, and the impact of infrastructure development, including energy infrastructure on rural landscapes and communities.

Several contributions focused on the role of rural services such as transport, policing and local government, with speakers arguing that changes to funding formulas risk disadvantaging rural areas compared with more urban locations. Rural transport was raised repeatedly, including the affordability and availability of bus services and the knock-on effects for access to work, education and healthcare. Rural crime, including equipment theft and wildlife crime, was also referenced as a growing concern.

In response, Ministers emphasised the Government’s position that rural needs are being reflected in current policy. They highlighted ongoing investment in gigabit-capable broadband through Project Gigabit, continued support for farmers through Environmental Land Management schemes, and the role of the Bus Services Act in supporting socially necessary rural bus services. Ministers also pointed to recent changes to Agricultural Property Relief, investment in tackling rural crime, and broader measures aimed at supporting rural businesses and economic growth.

The debate illustrated clear differences in perspective over rural funding, service provision and infrastructure, while underlining the prominence of rural issues in parliamentary scrutiny at the start of the year.

Read the full debate transcript here.

Rural Crime

Rural crime was raised in a series of parliamentary questions, with MPs highlighting issues including farm machinery and fuel theft, livestock crime, fly-tipping, waste crime and heritage crime. Ministers outlined funding for specialist national rural and wildlife crime units and confirmed support for new powers to improve enforcement and recovery of stolen equipment.

Discussion also touched on the organised nature of some rural crime, concerns about limited police resources in rural areas, and the importance of improved coordination and data to better reflect rural policing needs.

Read the full debate transcripts here and here.

Power Cuts and Energy Resilience in Rural Areas

MPs raised the impact of power cuts on rural communities, particularly following severe weather. Ministers acknowledged that rural areas experience more frequent and prolonged outages and outlined work with energy network operators and regulators to improve resilience.

Key points included support for vulnerable residents during outages, learning lessons from major storms, and the need for long-term investment in rural grid infrastructure to improve reliability.

Read the full debate transcript here.

Rural Fuel Duty Relief

A Westminster Hall debate examined the Rural Fuel Duty Relief scheme, which provides a 5p per litre fuel duty reduction at designated filling stations in certain remote rural areas. MPs highlighted that the relief has not been uprated since its introduction, reducing its real-terms impact.

Concerns were raised about limited geographic coverage, high transport costs in areas with little public transport, and the importance of local filling stations to rural economies and tourism. Calls were made for the scheme to be reviewed, updated and potentially extended.

Read the full debate transcript here.