ARE RURAL COMMUNITIES BEING LEFT BEHIND BY THE GOVERNMENT? LORDS TO HEAR EVIDENCE

ARE RURAL COMMUNITIES BEING LEFT BEHIND BY THE GOVERNMENT? LORDS TO HEAR EVIDENCE

The Select Committee on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 will take evidence from rural advocacy groups and Hastoe Housing Association on Tuesday 14 November.

The sessions will focus on how Government policy could better support the needs of rural communities and why there is such a shortage of affordable homes in rural areas.

Topics likely to be covered include:

• Where rural proofing should sit within Government
• How Government policy has impacted upon the challenges that people face when people are trying to find a home in rural areas
• Whether the extension of the “right to buy” to housing association tenants has affected the delivery of housing on rural exception sites
• Whether rural areas have suffered disproportionately as a result of public sector budget cuts
• The impact of the abolition of the Commission for Rural Communities on rural representation

At 11:05am the Committee will hear evidence from:

• Jeremy Leggett, Trustee, Action with Communities in Rural England
• Margaret Clark CBE, Chair, Rural Coalition

At 12:05pm the Committee will hear evidence from:

• Sue Chalkley OBE, Chief Executive, Hastoe Housing Association
• Graham Biggs MBE, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network

The evidence sessions will begin at 11:05 am, Tuesday 14 November in Committee Room 1 of the House of Lords.