Darlington and Stockton Times reports the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Rural Business and the Rural Powerhouse has this week issued a call for evidence to establish the effects the cost-of-living crisis is having on countryside businesses and communities

The inquiry will consider if rural areas are disproportionately affected by the economic situation, as well as considering what the longer-term political consequences will be for rural areas, and what steps can be taken to mitigate the impacts.

The APPG will seek both oral and written evidence which will feed into a report to be published in early 2023, and will investigate four key themes – general impact on business and consumer, employment, housing and energy.

This new inquiry follows the report published earlier this year by the APPG, "Levelling Up The Rural Economy: an inquiry into rural productivity", which collated evidence from more than 50 industry bodies, charities, companies, campaign groups, academics and business leaders.

The report produced 27 key recommendations for policy makers to unlock £43bn GVA in the rural economy and to close the 18 per cent productivity gap compared to the national average.

The APPG is encouraging all stakeholders in the rural economy to contribute in order to produce the most detailed and comprehensive report into countryside businesses and rural communities yet.

Full article:

Darlington and Stockton Times - Inquiry into the cost-of-living crisis in rural areas

The RSN will be submitting evidence into the APPG inquiry including our recent rural cost of living research. You can find more at this link about this research