General debate on rural affairs
A general debate on rural affairs has been scheduled in the Commons Chamber for 11 November.
The following Library briefings cover relevant issues:
Rural issuesRural communities: Issues and support (11 October 2024)
This briefing from the House of Lords Library provides an overview of key challenges for rural communities, and government policies to address them.
FarmingNew approaches to farm funding in England (28 May 2024) and Farm funding: implementing new approaches (15 March 2023)
These Commons Library briefings explain how farm funding is changing.
Inheritance taxInheritance tax: Current policy and debates (5 November 2024)
This briefing explains inheritance tax and recent debates about the tax.
Section 4.4 has information on recent proposed changes for agricultural property relief.
Digital connectivityRural mobile coverage in the UK: Not-spots and partial not-spots (1 March 2024)
This briefing paper looks at mobile coverage in the UK with a focus on rural 4G mobile coverage. It covers government targets and policies to tackle partial not-spots and total not-spots, such as the Shared Rural Network.
Gigabit broadband in the UK: Government targets, policy, and funding (3 July 2023)
This briefing paper provides information on the Government's targets for rolling out gigabit broadband, its policies to support the roll-out by industry, and its public funding programme, Project Gigabit.
Rural housingRural housing: A reading list (10 September 2021)
People living in rural areas can face particular housing challenges. This paper provides a selection of publications and articles that examine these challenges and proposals to address them.
Rural populationDepopulation in rural areas (9 September 2024)
Information compiled ahead of a Westminster Hall debate on 11 September 2024.
EmploymentEmployment of people living in rural and coastal communities (30 January 2024).
This briefing was prepared for a debate in Westminster Hall on 1 February 2024, and includes employment statistics, levelling up and rural proofing.
HealthHealth care in rural areas (17 February 2023)
This Lords Library briefing covers the challenges of delivering health care in rural areas and government actions to address them.