Rural businesses vital to economy
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has pledged government support for rural communities and businesses today. Mr Benn said that he will be bringing together the Commission for Rural Communities and the Regional Development Agencies to look at how the recession is affecting rural areas and whether additional help might be needed.
Mr Benn added:
“Rural businesses play a vital role in our economy, and they will be even more important in future.
“Although they are rural in location, they are not local in their reach. Rural businesses are more likely to sell to national and export to international markets than their urban counterparts. Rural areas are home to around one million businesses, a quarter of England’s total, employing more than 5.5million people and with a combined turnover of more than £300billion a year. There are more businesses for every 10,000 people in rural areas than there are in urban areas.
“The recession is making life hard for many communities and businesses. That’s just as true of rural communities as it is of our towns and cities. The government’s job is to continue to do what we can to help – on bank lending, on support to businesses, and assistance for those who lose their jobs or who are worried about losing their homes and what the future holds.”
Further information
The government’s response to the report by the Rural Advocate
Page last modified: 5 February 2009
Page published: 5 February 2009