TELLING US WHAT WE ALREADY KNEW

11.16.51am GMT Tue 9th Mar 2010

Nick Harvey, MP for North Devon, says, "The recent report by the Chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities, simply confirms what we already knew. The exodus of young people can consign rural communities and economies to stagnation."

This year's Rural Advocate Report 2010 focuses on issues affecting children and young people living and working in rural England. Stuart Burgess, the Prime Minister's Rural Advocate warned, "My clear message is that challenges for rural young people need addressing positively and urgently and that failure to act will put the future viability of our rural communities at risk."

"It is therefore of concern to me, as Rural Advocate, when I hear that living in the countryside is not a viable option for young people. It is not just the lure of cities and bright lights - young people are having to leave in search of jobs or housing; having left for further or higher education, see no future in returning. This is why I am focusing this report on issues faced by young people in rural areas."

Nick adds, "All is not doom and gloom and traditionally higher education students always go where the work is. However, the CRC does highlight the paucity of opportunities and infrastructure to retain young people or indeed entice them into the region. It also shows that for too long Labour have concentrated on urban areas. This is clearly the case in the South West."

For further information see:

http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/events/ruraladvocatereport2010launched