Rural Affairs

Reaction to the announcement

The response of key stakeholders to the Rural Strategy 2004 has been generally very positive, welcoming the establishment of an Integrated Agency and the devolution of delivery and decision making to the regions.

Defra family

“This is a fifty year landmark. Since the legislation of the 1940s, nature conservation and landscape protection have come under separate bodies. But now we know that a joined up approach to habitats and landscapes is essential if the nation is to achieve nature conservation in a way that people can get out and enjoy.”

"...the decision to mainstream our socio-economic demonstration programmes is a vindication of the Government’s spending decisions in the 2000 Rural White Paper....Now it’s time for local authorities, regional development agencies and rural community councils to turn our initial demonstration into mainstream practice for a sustainable development future."

In the ‘new countryside agency’, we will be working to help them ‘think rural’

“The Rural Strategy will create a delivery focus for deprived rural areas, but it is equally important to address the needs of disadvantaged people in the more prosperous areas of the countryside."

"We warmly welcome the proposals to bring together nature, landscape and access into one body. We want people from all parts of society to learn about, enjoy and be inspired by the incredibly rich and varied nature and landscapes of England. Looking after them for the benefit of future generations is a great responsibility which needs a strong and independent agency. The Council and staff of English Nature look forward to contributing to a more sustainable future by helping to develop and implement these proposals."

“ The new arrangements will enable Defra to champion the role of forestry more effectively across Whitehall as part of an integrated approach to delivering public benefits from land management.”

“ The Environment Agency welcomes the simplification of funding and delivery in rural areas.”

“We will work closely with the Integrated Agency on priorities and implementation."

"We are especially pleased to see that the strategy emphasises the need for an integrated environmental land management."

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Regional and local government

“Today the government has taken a step in the right direction by standing back from delivery and acknowledging one size does not fit all.”

“It is extremely important for local authorities to be actively engaged in strategic planning and prioritising and support rural delivery to local communities. However, it is vital for funding to be devolved to the most appropriate level and the LGA hopes to see devolution of funding to local delivery partnerships to enable more freedom and flexibility and provide a possible move away from the bidding process.”

“ The most important message is that these reforms will help ensure a more effective use of funding and resources to benefit people living and working in rural areas. “

“The RDAs are here to lead sustainable economic development - we are very pleased with today’s announcement and look forward to making an even greater impact on the rural economy and rural communities.”

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Key Stakeholders

“ This is another step forward in the regional agenda.”

“The new land management agency is good news. It offers the chance for a more coordinated approach to delivering land management policies…”

“The new Agency has the potential to bring breakthrough thinking to delivering better conservation of our countryside, coast and seas. However, its initial success and future public confidence in its role and clout, will depend on early legislation, strong leadership and sufficient funds."

“Statement on rural strategy doesn't do ‘what it says on the tin’ ".

" In our view, Mrs Beckett recognised the essential links between policy and delivery, however, the transfer of key delivery responsibilities away from Defra means that it will be difficult or impossible in practice for the Rural Affairs Department to see its rural policy delivered on the ground."

“If this is to truly modernise delivery, The Wildlife Trusts want to see a strong and independent agency with adequate resources, that can challenge government policy as well as delivering it. It would be a step backwards if the new agency does not cover rural, urban and marine landscapes, with management, enhancement and protection of biodiversity central to its role.”

“Margaret Beckett has listened carefully and made many welcome proposals for the protection and enhancement of the countryside”

“The promised creation of the new statutory and independent Integrated Agency to be the powerful guardian of our natural heritage is a leap forward and shows how successful a transparent and listening approach by Government can be.”

“We are not clear that the new Integrated Agency will be able to focus clearly on the protection and enhancement of landscape and biodiversity without being burdened with a social or economic remit.”

"Simplifying the grant application processes is crucial as over bureaucratic and complicated systems are a major disincentive to encouraging businesses who could benefit most from applying."

"It is not clear that the measures outlined ..... will enable businesses to access grants and support more easily."

"This decision threatens to relegate the protection of England's wildlife, and could leave our most precious and vulnerable habitats and species even more at risk from pollution, development pressure and industrial farming.”

“ I’m slightly surprised in a sense maybe I wasn’t radical enough, but yes I think the Government has responded in a surprisingly forthright, businesslike way to the report very un- Whitehall like.”

".....there is a real role for a slimmed down Countryside Agency to listen to the people in the countryside and to make recommendations and put pressure on central Government on policy changes...."

"At the local level people are much more accountable because you know who the bureaucrat is so you can wave your fist at him, when central Government tries to meddle in people at local level ..... it is a second best to people at local level dealing on behalf of central Government with these issues."

  • Lord Haskins

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Parliamentary Debates

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We are interested in your views. Comments or suggestions can be sent by e-mail to the Defra implementation team at: ruralstrategy2004@defra.gsi.gov.uk. It may not be possible to answer every e-mail individually, but your views will be used to inform updates to the website. Please check online for regular updates.

Page last modified: 19 May, 2005
Page published: 21 July, 2004

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs