Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Economic Growth: Rural Areas

Tuesday 1 July 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Rachel Gilmour inquired about specific steps the Chancellor will take to support those in or near poverty in rural areas.
  • The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will provide further details on funding for the 350 most deprived communities, including rural areas.
  • Jayne Kirkham questioned whether Cornwall would continue to receive necessary funding for economic growth under the current government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachel Gilmour Lib Dem Tiverton and Minehead
Economy Housing Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP noted persistent poverty in many rural areas, exacerbated by additional living costs known as the 'rural premium'. She referenced concerns about accurate reflection of deprivation.

Question

While I welcome the Government’s rural growth plans, I am concerned about the persistent poverty in many rural areas. The additional costs of living in these communities—known as the rural premium—exacerbate hardship. What specific steps will the Chancellor take to support those in, or near, poverty in rural areas, and will the Treasury commit to revising the indices of multiple deprivation to more accurately reflect deprivation in rural and coastal communities, such as west Somerset and mid Devon?

Answer from Emma Reynolds (Economic Secretary to the Treasury)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will be coming forward with further details of funding for the 350 most deprived communities across the country, including rural areas.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures to support people in poverty were not addressed; commitment to revise indices was also not confirmed.

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Q2 Jayne Kirkham Labour (Co-op) Truro and Falmouth
Economy Local Government
Context

The MP noted Cornwall’s status as one of the most deprived regions of northern Europe, previously benefiting from objective 1 structural and sustained prosperity fund funding.

Question

As one of the most deprived regions of northern Europe, Cornwall benefited from objective 1 structural and sustained prosperity fund funding. Can the Minister confirm that, under this Government, Cornwall will not lose out on funding for economic growth and the investment that our communities deserve?

Answer from Emma Reynolds (Economic Secretary to the Treasury)

We are supporting growth across the country, and we will publish further details of how we will do that in the coming weeks.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Confirmation was not provided; only a promise to publish more information later was given.

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