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Rural Communities: Government Support
12 March 2025
Lead MP
Caroline Voaden
South Devon
LD
Responding Minister
Daniel Zeichner
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Word Count: 10076
Other Contributors: 22
At a Glance
Caroline Voaden raised concerns about rural communities: government support in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government must ensure equitable support for rural communities, including addressing the issue of free school transport for all ages and resolving the challenge of limited opportunities for young people due to a lack of rural transport. The median full-time salary in South Devon is below the national average while house prices are above it.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The rural-urban divide is one of the deepest in the UK. Ten million people live in rural areas, where settlements have fewer than 10,000 residents and work-based incomes are lower compared to urban areas. The average age in South Devon is higher at 30%, compared to 17% in urban areas. Additionally, access to healthcare is challenging due to cut community services and hospitals being far away. The proportion of rural premises with access to gigabit-capable broadband was only 47% last year compared with 84% in urban areas.
Tewkesbury
Addressed broadband connectivity and mobile reception problems, highlighting the need for better infrastructure support in Tewkesbury's fast-growing borough, including road and rail infrastructure improvements.
Caroline Voaden
Con
South Devon
Secured the debate and highlighted challenges in rural communities.
Ely and East Cambridgeshire
Discussed the need for transport investment in rural areas, including cycleways, footpaths, regular buses, and routes connecting villages. Highlighted issues with bus services not reaching neighbouring villages.
Chris Hinchliff
Lab
North East Hertfordshire
Mr Hinchliff asked the Minister a question but did not receive an answer due to time constraints. He focused on the need for skills development and better integration of services in rural areas.
Daniel Zeichner
Lab
Cambridge
Mr Zeichner discussed the roll-out of Project Gigabit, housing reforms, energy costs, and the need for more affordable homes in rural areas. He also highlighted the importance of skills development and the challenges faced by the health service in rural regions.
Roz Savage
LD
South Cotswolds
Highlighted public transport issues such as cancelled bus routes impacting students' ability to attend college, illustrating the broader impacts on education and economic opportunities in rural areas.
Gregory Stafford
Con
Farnham and Bordon
Highlights infrastructure challenges including gaps in health services, broadband access, banking facilities, and transport in rural areas such as Farnham and Haslemere.
Helen Morgan
LD
North Shropshire
Focused on three key issues: public transport funding cuts in Shropshire, cultural opportunities impacted by poor local authority funding, and inadequate sports facilities like Greenfields in Market Drayton due to lack of funds.
Ian Roome
LD
North Devon
Grateful for the debate on supporting rural communities.
Jade Botterill
Lab
Ossett and Denby Dale
Supports the Government's efforts to improve connectivity through 5G expansion, address potholes with £1.6 billion funding, and introduce better buses Bill for reliable public transport.
James Naish
Lab
Rushcliffe
Thanked Caroline Voaden for securing the debate and highlighted the Government’s work on broadband, buses, roads, and the rural England prosperity fund. Pleased with the GP contract agreement ending the 8 am scramble for appointments.
Jamie Stone
LD
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Pointed out higher delivery costs in remote areas compared to cities like Glasgow or Edinburgh, advocating for a level playing field on delivery charges.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Highlighted issues such as bus service inadequacies and bank closures, suggesting an obligation for banks to open banking hubs upon branch closure.
John Lamont
Con
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Agrees that decision makers need to better understand the unique challenges of rural areas before implementing policies.
Lee Pitcher
Lab
Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
Highlights the struggles faced by small rural schools, surgeries, broadband services, and businesses in his constituency due to budget cuts and lagging infrastructure.
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
Called for rural communities producing electricity to be paid 5% of revenue from new renewable energy generation. Also suggested equalising environmental taxes on electricity and gas to reduce heating costs.
Tiverton and Minehead
Discussed the dental desert issue in her constituency, highlighting statistics on adults and children's access to dental care, as well as gaps in sixth-form provision.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
Supports the call for rural-proofing policies and unlocking unique funding streams to tackle uniquely rural challenges such as banking hubs, post office services, and connectivity issues.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
The sudden closure of the sustainable farming incentive has left thousands of farmers cut off from funding, impacting nature-friendly farming and flood management measures.
Steve Barclay
Con
North East Cambridgeshire
Asked for clarification on when the decision to close SFI was made.
Vikki Slade
LD
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Agreed that increasing the age of participation from 16 to 18 without also extending free school transport ages creates financial burdens for families in rural areas.
North East Fife
Emphasised the importance of connectivity for rural communities, discussing poor phone signals leading to energy management issues and a lack of cash and banking services. Also pointed out that burgh towns are central hubs for community services.
Government Response
Daniel Zeichner
The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs
Government Response
Addressed concerns regarding rural services, funding cuts, and crime. Emphasised commitment to addressing rural challenges through visits and initiatives, including £33 million directed to the rural England prosperity fund and £5 million in capital grants for community assets.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.