ARCHIVE: Influencing policy making - Rural mainstreaming

While it is the responsibility of all parts of Government to ensure that the needs and interests of rural people, businesses and communities are addressed effectively, Defra has the role of ensuring everyone in government has a good understanding of rural circumstances and of promoting rural interests within mainstream national, regional and local policy-making and delivery.

This is reflected in the Department’s rural Strategic Objective (DSO 8) which aims to promote Socially and Economically Sustainable Rural Communities.

Rural mainstreaming is not new. It has always been the responsibility of all parts of Government to ensure that the needs of all sections of society, including rural areas, are appropriately addressed in policy-making and delivery.

Defra’s role is to encourage effective mainstreaming of rural across all parts of Government, and to support, via the Commission for Rural Communities, effective rural proofing.

We do this by:

Promoting the Government’s policy of rural mainstreaming at all levels of government – for example, through Dan Norris’ programme of bilateral meetings with Ministers from across Government.
Working with national, regional and local Government to support the effective rural proofing of policies and delivery plans – for example through the programme of Rural Champion placements.
Supporting and advising Ministers on key rural issues, including the impact of the recession.
Working with colleagues in national, regional and local government to explore rural issues.
Sponsoring the CRC to act as the rural watchdog.

Page last modified: 12 March 2010
Page published: 16 August 2007