Beckett announces rural strategy

THE CREATION of a new, integrated conservation and environment agency has been announced by DEFRA minister Margaret Beckett.

The new agency will consist of English Nature, DEFRA‘s Rural Development Service and some parts of the Countryside Agency, in line with the recommendations made by Lord Haskins in his review of rural policy published last November.

Mrs Beckett made the announcement as she presented the government‘s new rural strategy to Parliament on Wednesday (July 21).

The government plans to introduce the primary legislation required to establish the new integrated agency next year.

Mrs Beckett said about the new body: “Its remit will be the integrated management of our natural heritage that the challenges and the environmental threats of the 21st century demand.”

Neither the Rural Payments Agency, the Environment Agency nor delivery functions of the Forestry Commission will be affected by the creation of the new integrated agency.

Mrs Beckett also announced plans to create a new, slimmed-down Countryside Agency by next April to act as a watchdog and advocate on behalf of rural communities.

The new rural strategy includes plans to dramatically streamline rural funding schemes.

The current 100 separate schemes will be stripped down to a simple framework of three main funding programmes with these targets: Regeneration of communities and businesses, a competitive farming and food industry and sustainable land management.

The rules surrounding each of the schemes will be swept away.

On economic and social regeneration in rural areas, Mrs Beckett announced an increase of £27m in the funding DEFRA provides to the Regional Development Authorities, from £45m to £74m.

“I will devolve decision-making and funding for economic regeneration to the RDAs to allow decisions to reflect better the needs and pressures in each region,” she said.