Rural Related Politics - An RSN weekly review

Parliament is in recess from 9 April and will next sit on 22 April.

Tuesday 8 April 2025

Oral Evidence,  Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee. Today, the HCLG Committee holds the latest evidence sessions for its inquiry on the funding and sustainability of local government finance, questioning witnesses from the National Audit Office (NAO) and CIPFA, as well as local government finance experts, including local authority finance directors.

The cross-party group of MPs will ask questions around the financial sustainability of local government, looking at areas including the cost pressures facing local councils, the effect of preventative services to reduce demand in future, income streams such as council tax, and whether radical steps are needed to achieve sustainability.

The Committee will also examine the measures announced by the Government to reform the local government finance system and potential long-term changes.

The inquiry terms of reference are available on the Committee website.

The RSN team will review the transcript of of the above and will share any relevant comments with readers next week. 

Insights from Last Week:

Tackling Rural Crime

In a recent session in Parliament, concerns over rising rural crime rates were addressed, with government representatives reaffirming their commitment to bolstering security in Britain's countryside.

Dame Diana Johnson, Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention Minister, detailed the government's strategic approach to mitigating the impact of crime in rural areas. The Minister emphasised tougher measures against antisocial behaviour, fly-tipping, and the theft of agricultural equipment as central to the government's strategy. "We are committed to safeguarding our rural communities through enhanced support to the national rural and wildlife crime units," she stated, underscoring the allocation of additional funding to these bodies.

Paul Davies MP, Colne Valley, highlighted the distressing surge in rural crime rates, which have increased by 32% since 2011, outpacing the rise in urban crime. "Theft of agricultural machinery, livestock, and fuel remains a pressing issue in remote locations, significantly impacting local farmers and residents," Davies noted. He questioned the adequacy of current government actions in providing the necessary attention to rural crime.

Responding to the concerns, Minister Johnson referenced recent initiatives including a rural crime roundtable and the introduction of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023. "These steps demonstrate our resolve to not only address but stay ahead of emerging challenges in rural crime," she explained.

The session also touched upon less recognised aspects of rural crime. Sir Roger Gale MP, Herne Bay and Sandwich, brought attention to the use of catapults in wildlife maiming — an issue prevalent in both rural and urban settings. "Current legislation and police powers are not adequate to address these malicious acts," Gale asserted. Minister Johnson agreed to consider revising the Crime and Policing Bill to better tackle such offenses.

As rural crime evolves, the government's proactive legislative and strategic measures aim to provide a resilient framework to protect the UK's rural areas, ensuring they are safe and secure for all residents.

Read the session transcript in full here.

Farming and Rural Communities

In a recent session in the House of Lords, Lord Roborough MP, a representative with vested interests in farming and related businesses, brought to light the profound challenges faced by the agricultural sector due to recent government economic and planning measures. The session, dedicated to evaluating the impact of these policies on farming and rural communities, unearthed a series of concerns regarding the financial stability and mental well-being of farmers.

One of the central issues discussed was the modification of inheritance tax reliefs, particularly under agricultural and business property relief. Lord Roborough highlighted the potential devastating financial effects on farmers intending to pass down their farms to the next generation. This reduction in relief not only threatens the continuity of family-run farms but also risks destabilising rural economies dependent on agriculture.

The abrupt termination of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) also featured prominently in the debates. This unexpected move left many farmers without the crucial support previously promised to aid their transition towards more sustainable agricultural practices. Critics, including Lord Roborough, argue that this not only undermines the government's environmental commitments but also places an undue burden on farmers who had already begun to align their operations with the anticipated funding.

Additionally, the session shed light on the reduction of mental health support funds specifically allocated to farmers, a decision that Lord Roborough MP and other participants viewed as neglectful, given the high levels of mental stress in the agricultural community. The lack of sufficient support mechanisms, coupled with financial insecurities, could potentially exacerbate mental health crises among farmers.

Throughout the session, various members, including Lord Davies of Brixton and Baroness Shephard of Northwold, expressed their concerns and suggested that a re-evaluation of these policies is crucial to safeguard the interests of the rural economy. The consensus among the speakers was clear: to ensure the sustainability of both the agricultural sector and rural communities, the government must reconsider its approach and reinstate adequate support measures.

Read the session transcript in full here.