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Living in rural areas

The Government recognises and appreciates the importance of England’s rural communities, who make up one fifth of the national population.

Evidence overall indicates that rural areas are doing just as well or better than urban areas on most key elements which go to make up successful and sustainable communities (that is, health, education, employment, crime, social capital and quality of life etc.)

The government does not believe that rural people, businesses and communities are fundamentally different from their urban or suburban counterparts, and that everybody across the country wants and deserves the same basic outcomes for themselves and their families, e.g. secure jobs, safe communities, good schools, reliable healthcare.

Page last modified: 16 September 2009
Page published: 16 September 2009