Of coarse many here will believe this unnecessary, but I feel a good step forward for rural issues
People living in the countryside are losing out because the Government spends twice as much on those in urban areas, James Gray warned yesterday.
The North Wiltshire MP used a special Commons debate to highlight the problem – and urged Ministers to change it.
He spoke out in a Commons debate on Government support for rural economies, secured by former Countryside Alliance chief executive Simon Hart, who is now a Tory MP.
Mr Hart, who grew up in the Cotswolds and attended the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, said a fifth of the population either live or work in the countryside.
But he said while rural isolation was a dream for some people, it was a nightmare for others.
The challenges included deprivation, poverty, the more limited educational opportunities and the cost of fuel, which could be 5p a litre more expensive than in cities.
There were also issues over rural transport and affordable housing, the availability of healthcare, access to financial services and a higher fear of crime, especially among older people.
Mr Hart suggested the Government had done well on internet broadband access, food labelling, red tape in farming and planning.
“However the rural jury is still out on affordable housing, post offices, mobile phone coverage, fear of crime and more recently on VAT on caravans, fuel poverty and transport costs as well,” he said.
Tory MP Mr Gray said the Government must revamp the system “to correct the anomaly whereby the Government spends about £200 per head in rural areas and about £400 per head in urban areas”.
“Surely that is wrong and the forthcoming review of local government finance and, incidentally, of health finance as well should correct that anomaly,” he added.
He also attacked the small print in last month’s Budget on VAT on the restoration of historic churches and houses.
“Because of that, it will be necessary to do away with the restoration of the church at Castle Combe in my constituency,” he said. Another Tory MP, Caroline Nokes, warned in rural areas across the country, six pubs are closing every week.
And Lib Dem Roger Williams urged Ministers not to push the traditional makers of cider out of business in trying to deal with alcohol abuse in society.
Rural Affairs Minister Richard Benyon promised to deliver services fairly and equally, to ensure people were not discriminated against for living in the countryside
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