Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of (a) how widespread social exclusion is in rural areas and (b) the effect of his Department’s policies on social exclusion in rural areas.

This is a devolved matter and the below refers to England only.

Through the evidence gathered in the 2017-18 Community Life Survey in England, indicators linked to social exclusion do not show a significant difference between urban and rural areas. Adults living in rural areas are less likely to say that they feel they often/always feel lonely than people living in urban areas (3% compared with 6%). In addition, adults living in rural areas are more likely to say they feel they belong to their immediate neighbourhood (68%) than those living in urban areas (61%).

The cross-Government team on tackling loneliness is working with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations to ensure our work is complementary and to share insights and learn from one another.

Defra publishes the Statistical Digest of Rural England, a collection of statistics on a range of social and economic themes including poverty and well-being. The Digest allows for comparisons between rural and urban areas and is updated throughout the year. The Digest is available on gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistical-digest-of-rural-england

In its response to a House of Lords’ report on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act in May 2018, the Government reiterated its commitment to rural proofing all policies from the earliest stages so that they take account of the needs and circumstances of rural areas. Defra supports this through the provision of guidance and statistical information.