“We are at the heart of many of our rural communities across the country, wanting to contribute to their flourishing and thriving.”
With a reference to “the untapped potential of the rural economy and the prosperity that it can deliver for our nation”, Dr Smith hoped that everything could be framed with “the right policies and support in place”, and declared his interest “as president of the Rural Coalition and as a vice-president of the Local Government Association”.
“Nearly 20 per cent of the population of this country live in the countryside,” he said, “and over half a million businesses are registered in rural areas, employing 3.8 million people. The rural economy contributes over £315 billion a year to England alone. It is vital, then, that the Government’s missions not only deliver for rural communities but enable the rural economy to play its part in helping to deliver them.”
Baroness Shephard listed community benefits, concluding with “our rural schools, nearly a quarter of which in Norfolk are church schools, where teachers strive to nurture and to encourage ambition and aspiration; and our network of churches, a lifeline for many”.
The Earl of Devon praised Dr Smith “not only for calling this debate but for his tireless work on behalf of rural communities. At a time when the Bishops’ Benches are somewhat under assault, it is notable how much work he does. The recently retired Bishop of Exeter similarly did an awful lot of work for rural communities, and the Bishops’ voices are incredibly powerful.”
Lord Gascoigne said: “I pay tribute to . . . the Bishop of St Albans, for whom I have great admiration. Alongside . . . the Bishop of Norwich, he adds immense value to discussion of the crucial issues of rural communities and the environment. Like their namesakes on a chessboard, when they are combined, they are formidable, and they bring important views to this Chamber.”
Poverty, inequality, affordable housing and the impact of second homes in rural areas, and small businesses and growth were all touched on during the debate as pressing points of concern. Responding on behalf of the Government, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Baroness Hayman, assured the House that “we will continue to talk to the Treasury from DEFRA, and I will always stand up for the countryside and our rural communities. We recognise the importance of the rural economy and wider rural communities.”
In concluding the debate, on 19 December, Dr Smith thanked the Minister, and said that he feared that “very often, government is rural-blind. Many of us, for many years now, have been asking for a comprehensive rural strategy, and for proper rural-proofing, not because of special pleading but because we believe that this can make a huge difference to our nation.”