Rural Economy

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon Excerpts

Thursday 11th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Lab)]

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Fuller, for initiating this debate, but he would not expect me to agree with him on every point he has made. I remind the noble Lord that it was years of austerity that helped to undermine the money going to local councils that he regrets so much—and so do I.

Rural Britain is not peripheral; it is central to who we are. It contributes hundreds of billions to our economy, and it is home to nearly one in five of our citizens. Labour has a proud history of championing our rural areas, from the Attlee Government’s National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act onwards. That was the bedrock of today’s tourism, which contributes to our rural economy. I live in the Forest of Dean, and always have done, where there are no Ubers and a flourishing pub.

If we are to build a resilient and fair rural economy, we must move beyond rhetoric to a genuinely place-based long-term approach that treats rural communities not as recipients of policy but as partners in shaping it—farmers large and small, rural entrepreneurs, and local producers. The Government have rightly reaffirmed their commitment to rural-proofing, which is vital. It must be integral from the outset, influencing decisions on funding, service delivery and infrastructure. It must recognise that the rural economy includes culture and creativity.

I met a wonderful rural entrepreneur this morning, James Grugeon, who lives in Suffolk. Among other things, he works with the Adnams brewery, which will be well known to the noble Lord, Lord Fuller. Their Great Get Together beer will be available in our bars from Monday to mark 10 years since the murder of Jo Cox. I am delighted that the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act places a legal obligation on mayors and strategic authorities to actively consider the needs of rural communities when exercising their functions. This includes assessing impacts on land use, housing, local employment, health and well-being. I hope that others will follow the excellent example of the UK’s first protected, landscape-led natural health service, which is being piloted by North York Moors Trust as part of the Moving Forward campaign of David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire. This will help to improve well-being, reduce loneliness and support people to get and stay active.

Alan Milburn’s interim review tells of the chronic problem of youth unemployment—aspirations thwarted, opportunities lost and futures placed on hold. The land and nature sectors offer fantastic jobs but, too often, young people from urban and rural areas do not know of their potential choices. What are the Government doing to ensure greater awareness of these opportunities, empowering young people to stay in rural areas and have fulfilling careers?

Horticulture makes an enormous contribution to our economy of around £40 billion. It plays a critical role in food security, environmental sustainability and human well-being, yet it remains underrecognised. Crops are essential, but so are our gardens, patios and window boxes, not to mention beautiful RHS gardens throughout the UK. This sector faces a chronic shortage of labour and skills at all levels. We need stronger education pathways and more degree-level study alongside high-quality apprenticeships that enable people to enter and thrive in the sector. The seasonal worker scheme remains essential. The Government’s extension of the scheme and recent reforms to introduce greater flexibility are important, but short-term visa decisions create uncertainty. A more predictable, rolling framework would provide the stability that growers and workers need.

The countryside should be enjoyed by all citizens of our country, not just those of us who are fortunate to live there. I wonder whether any schemes have followed the Generation Green 2 Defra-funded initiative that connected tens of thousands of disadvantaged young people in England with nature. The access to nature Green Paper will be welcome. I recently met a beautiful brown hare while walking across my fields—well, I do not own them, but they are by my house. I am delighted that the Government are committed to the implementation of a closed season for hares. When will the shooting of these glorious creatures in the breeding season cease?

Finally, I hope that the Minister will be able to tell us when the report of the rural task force will be published, likewise, the 25-year farming road map. The rural economy is about not only production, but about people, place and potential. It is about beauty and diversity. With the right long-term approach, it can and must thrive for the benefit of us all.