Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they took, if any, to ensure that guidance for rural proofing as set out in the Annual Rural Proofing Report 2020, published on 26 March 2021, was followed in the preparation and publication of the Levelling Up White Paper.

Chapter One of the Levelling Up White Paper sets out UK-wide analysis of a range of economic measures. This includes recognising the particular challenges and strengths of rural communities, such as high local belonging and connectedness, but lower connectivity, skills and productive capital. The Government is committed to ensuring that places across the UK, including rural communities, benefit from increased opportunity and investment as set out in the Levelling Up White Paper. The forthcoming Annual Report on Rural Proofing will focus more specifically on levelling up in rural areas.