Rural Communities: Government Support

Asked if the Government could give farmers a fair price for their product at the farm gate to address market failures affecting rural communities.

Special educational needs services in rural areas are inadequate due to smaller and more dispersed populations. Additionally, flooding issues are not adequately addressed, impacting farmers' livelihoods and food prices across the country. Rural communities need better transport infrastructure, such as a train station for Skelmersdale.

As an intervention, Chris Clarkson noted that without access to private vehicles, public transport can take up to an hour and 17 minutes to travel between Langport and Castle Cary.

The hon. Member highlighted the lack of ultrafast broadband coverage in rural areas, noting that the UK is lagging behind other EU countries. She criticised Project Gigabit for focusing on easier-to-reach areas rather than harder-to-reach ones. The Member also addressed concerns about road maintenance and the availability of bus services, citing figures from the RAC regarding potholes and car breakdowns due to poor roads.

Congratulated the hon. Friend on securing her first Westminster Hall debate and highlighted that bus services are crucial for preventing social isolation, enabling access to schools, doctors and other essential services. Asked if equipment needs to be shared by all main mobile providers or if there should be rural roaming, in response to concerns about the effectiveness of the shared rural network.

Children with disabilities in rural areas face significant challenges, including early morning bus schedules that disrupt families and do not align with school start times.

I agree with my hon. Friend that rural isolation is a critical issue, particularly highlighting the lack of transport options in Glastonbury and Somerton.

Discussed transport issues for children with special educational needs in Selby, calling for more funding and investment to improve their access to education. The focus on flood risk should include consideration of high-quality arable land used for agriculture, rather than just the number of houses affected by floods.

Congratulated the hon. Member on securing this debate and suggested that the Government should adjust the local authority funding formula to consider sparsity which could help in addressing hidden rural poverty. The percentage of his constituency, Bosworth, with 1 gigabit connectivity has increased from 0.1% to 67%, highlighting the kind of opportunities this brings for businesses and residents.

Described the impact of decisions made in Westminster on rural communities, highlighting challenges in health care services, housing shortages, and education. He noted that community hospitals have been diminished, leading to longer distances to acute hospitals. The lack of affordable housing for key workers was also highlighted, with only six properties available for rent in Honiton. Education catchment areas were too large, causing significant space pressures in schools.

Steven Bonnar commended the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome on securing this debate, highlighting Scotland's commitment to supporting farmers and agricultural communities. He noted that Brexit has been detrimental to UK farming, leading to trade difficulties, labour shortages, reduced standards, and a loss of funding. The Scottish Government are committed to maintaining direct payments and ensuring a smooth transition between current and new systems. Bonnar called for clarity on future funding after 2025 from the UK Government, stressing that the multi-year common agricultural policy framework provided certainty while in the EU.

The UK boasts rich rural communities with unique challenges. The government has implemented various measures to support growth, sustainability and resilience in these areas, including 'Unleashing Rural Opportunity' to invest in the economy and improve digital connections through Project Gigabit, aiming for 1 million homes and businesses with high-speed internet.

Farmers feel let down by the Government's trade deals and transition from old to new farming schemes. Farming is crucial for feeding the country, protecting the environment, tackling climate change and promoting biodiversity. However, farm incomes have fallen significantly, with upland livestock farms experiencing a 44% drop and lowland livestock farms seeing a 41% decrease. The Groceries Code Adjudicator lacks sufficient authority to protect farmers from exploitation by retailers and processors. Additionally, broadband coverage in rural areas is inadequate; Project Gigabit excludes many communities, while local initiatives like B4RN could provide immediate connectivity if vouchers were restored. The £2 bus fare increase has not been effective without adequate bus service provision, highlighting the need for local authorities to run their own bus companies with Government funding. There is a pressing need for satellite radiotherapy centres in rural areas such as Kendal to reduce travel times and improve cancer treatment outcomes.