Future Trade p. 2. Agricultural Support Payments p. 4. Agricultural Workers p. 5. Food Labelling p. 6. Tourism p. 8. Shooting and the Game Market p.

Transcription

1 COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE BRIEFING NOTE RURAL ECONOMY Huse f Lrds Debate Opprtunities and challenges fr agriculture, fisheries, and rural ecnmy in the UK (The Earl f Lindsay, Cn) Thursday 2 Nvember 2017 Cntents Page Backgrund p. 2 Agriculture Future Trade p. 2 Agricultural Supprt Payments p. 4 Agricultural Wrkers p. 5 Fd Labelling p. 6 Rural Ecnmy and Services Turism p. 8 Shting and the Game Market p. 8 Cnservatin, Fisheries and Wildlife Management p. 9 Digital Cnnectivity p. 10 Husing p. 11 Cuntryside Alliance Briefing Nte Rural Ecnmy Huse f Lrds Debate, 2 Nvember 2017 Page 1 f 12

2 Backgrund The Cuntryside Alliance welcmes this debate n the pprtunities and challenges fr agriculture, fisheries and rural ecnmy in the UK. It is particularly pertinent given that Brexit presents cnsiderable challenges t agriculture, fisheries and the rural ecnmy as well as an pprtunity t d things differently. There are als nging challenges, such as delivering digital cnnectivity, access t services and affrdable husing in rural areas, which must be addressed if we are t have a vibrant rural ecnmy and sustainable cmmunities. This Parliament and the decisins made by this Gvernment in relatin t future trade, regulatins, agricultural and envirnmental plicies as well as infrastructure will shape the future f ur cuntryside fr many years t cme. At the heart f these decisins are defining questins abut the kind f landscapes we want t create, the fd we want t eat, and the cmmunities we want t develp. A new relatinship with Eurpe brings pprtunities. We have the chance t cnsider which EU plicies are wrking and which nes are nt, and develp an agricultural plicy that is mre apprpriate fr farming in this cuntry. Hwever, Brexit will nly be a success if the interests f rural cmmunities are central t the decisin making. This is nt simply self-interest. The cuntryside is vital fr ur fd and farming industry, prvides public gds and recreatin fr millins f peple, and its landscapes are an imprtant part f ur cultural heritage and hme t an astnishing range f wildlife and habitats. A successful living and wrking cuntryside is imprtant fr the entire natin. Agriculture Future Trade Trade is key t the future success f ur fd and farming industry. Fr agriculture, membership f the Single Market has meant tariff free mvement f gds between the UK and EU member states as well as significant prtectin frm nn-eu fd imprts. Apprximately 62 per cent f UK agricultural exprts g t the EU, while apprximately 70 per cent f UK agricultural imprts cme frm the EU. Fd prductin and the prcessing supply chain is cmplex and ften invlves several cuntries within the EU. Agricultural gds generally carry higher imprt tariffs than ther cmmdities. If the UK Gvernment des nt establish a new trade agreement with the EU prir t leaving the EU and adpts Wrld Trade Organisatin terms, the 12 billin wrth f fd and agricultural prduce which the UK exprts t the EU each year wuld face the prspect f high tariffs. This wuld be damaging t UK prducers and EU cnsumers. Apprximately 90 per cent f UK beef, sheep, and dairy exprts g t the EU and high tariffs wuld be particularly damaging t sme f ur mst rural areas where farming is a vital part f the lcal ecnmy and cmmunity. The EU market is particularly imprtant fr certain cuts f meat and ffal where there is little dmestic demand and therefre exprts are a significant prprtin f carcass value. The EU is bliged by the Wrld Trade Organisatin t ffer reduced (r tariff free) imprt pprtunities t certain types f agricultural prduce frm utside f the EU under Tariff Rate Qutas (TRQ). There is currently a TRQ in place fr lamb frm New Zealand and hrmne-free beef frm Argentina and Nrth America which allws an annual quta f meat t avid the usual imprt tariffs. The UK Gvernment must ensure that the TRQs fr agricultural prduce are nt passed back t the UK unless there is a guarantee that UK farmers will cntinue t have tariff-free access t the EU market. Cuntryside Alliance Briefing Nte Rural Ecnmy Huse f Lrds Debate, 2 Nvember 2017 Page 2 f 12

3 As well as maintaining tariff-free trade with the EU, the UK Gvernment must ensure that fd and agricultural prduce are central t any new trade deals with nn-eu cuntries t pen up new exprt markets. We welcme the UK Gvernment s cntinued effrts t pen up markets in Asia. In China, the value f fd and drink exprts frm the UK has increased by ver 50 per cent frm 2015 t 2016 and is nw wrth millin. A shift twards prmting exprt markets utside f the EU is likely t increase the need fr UK agriculture t becme mre cmpetitive, but there will be sme farmers wh will always struggle t cmpete n price in the glbal market. Farmers in the uplands, and ther marginal areas, are nt in fair cmpetitin with glbal prducers wh are perating in very different envirnments, ften with fewer safety and animal welfare laws t cmply with, meaning their prductin csts are significantly lwer. This type f upland and marginal farming des, hwever, prvide a vital public gd in maintaining sme f ur mst icnic rural landscapes and their cmmunities. The interests f these farmers must be safeguarded in any new trade arrangements and in any new scheme fr agricultural supprt (see belw). Many f the cuntries with which new trade deals are seen as a pririty, such as Australia, the USA and Brazil are als large meat exprting cuntries. These cuntries are likely t seek extensive agricultural cncessins as part f any agreement with the UK and ur farmers must nt be used as a bargaining chip in the negtiatins. This is particularly imprtant as Wrld Trade Organisatin rules d nt allw the prcess by which smething was prduced t be taken int cnsideratin when prviding state supprt which is cnsidered t have a distrting effect n the market. The ability f the UK t prduce its wn fd must nt be undermined by any new trade deals. Skills and experience in the fd and farming industry have taken a lng time t develp and in many cases wuld be hard t replace if they were lst. Securing ur ability t prduce fd shuld nt be mistaken fr self-sufficiency as the UK will cntinue t imprt fd and agricultural prduce, just as it will cntinue t exprt. Fd security will be achieved by ensuring fair cmpetitin fr UK farmers and prducers in EU and nn-eu markets and this must be a pririty fr the UK Gvernment. UK agriculture underpins ur fd manufacturing sectr by prviding ver 60 per cent f the prduce and raw materials invlved. This is a vitally imprtant sectr, sustaining 3.8 millin jbs and adding ver 21 billin (GVA) t the UK ecnmy every year. Fd manufacturing is natinally imprtant and benefits cmmunities acrss the cuntry, althugh it has particular imprtance in many rural areas. The UK s new relatinship with the EU and any new trade deals with nn-eu cuntries will be vital t the future success r therwise f fd manufacturing in this cuntry. Cuntryside Alliance calls fr: Tariff-free trade with the EU in fd and agricultural prduce, including game. Ensure that any new trade deals with nn-eu cuntries recgnise and prtect the high standards f safety and animal welfare which UK cnsumers expect and t which ur farmers and prducers adhere. The UK Gvernment t ensure that fd and agricultural prduce are central t any new trade deals with nn-eu cuntries t pen up new exprt markets. The UK Gvernment t ensure that the TRQs fr agricultural prduce are nt passed back t the UK unless there is a guarantee that UK farmers will cntinue t have tariff-free access t the EU market. Cuntryside Alliance Briefing Nte Rural Ecnmy Huse f Lrds Debate, 2 Nvember 2017 Page 3 f 12

4 Agricultural Supprt Payments Farmers in the UK benefit frm supprt payments as part f the EU s Cmmn Agricultural Plicy (CAP). CAP payments are currently divided int tw categries which paid UK farmers a cmbined ttal f 2.8 billin in The majrity f funding is prvided as direct payments under Pillar 1 and additinal payments are available t help farmers implement develpment schemes under Pillar 2. Supprt payments frm the EU currently make up apprximately percent f farm incme in the UK. Supprt payments play an imprtant rle in the fd and farming sectr and the wider ecnmy. In 2015, it was estimated that the cntributin f farming t the UK acrss all areas was wrth 7.4 times the funding it received in direct payments under Pillar 1 (apprximately 2. 2 billin). This is particularly imprtant in rural areas where farming remains an imprtant part f the ecnmic and scial life f the lcal cmmunity. We welcmed the annuncement frm the UK Gvernment that funding under Pillar 1 will be guaranteed until 2020 and the cmmitment that prjects under Pillar 2, signed befre the Autumn Statement in 2016, will als have their funding guaranteed. It is imprtant that CAP is replaced with a fully funded UK agricultural plicy t be in place and ready t be implemented befre existing funding is remved. Farming in the UK has develped within the framewrk f CAP fr the last 40 years and therefre the intrductin f a new agricultural plicy will need t include transitinal arrangements t ensure that farm businesses in the UK are able t adjust as decisins ften need t be taken years in advance. Farmers, particularly in upland and marginal areas, are ften small t medium sized enterprises and a sudden change in agricultural plicy wuld risk the sustainability f sme f these businesses which are dependent upn supprt payments. The administratin f the new agricultural plicy must recgnise the fact that many farmers are still unable t receive high speed bradband and thse wh are cnnected d nt always have the skills t be able t use it t full advantage. The UK Gvernment and the Devlved Administratins must ensure that applicatins under a new agricultural plicy are able t be made by pst as well as nline fr as lng as required. This is nly ne example f why the UK must invest nw in the infrastructure needed fr prper digital cnnectivity. The UK Gvernment has indicated that it wants t see a mre market-rientated agricultural plicy with a fcus n cmpetitiveness. Plicies designed t make ur farmers mre cmpetitive shuld be welcmed, hwever this must nt be dne t the detriment f the envirnment. Farmers already play a vital rle in cnservatin. Using the skills and experience f farmers is ften the best way t imprve bidiversity and secure the future ur vital natural resurces. Farmers als manage the landscapes that are s imprtant t ur cultural heritage and prvide the recreatinal pprtunities peple value s much. This wrk clearly has a public benefit and a new agricultural plicy must supprt and incentivise farmers and land managers t ensure they can cntinue this imprtant wrk. This means ensuring that supprt is prvided t the peple and businesses wh have the task f carrying ut this wrk n a daily basis. Despite effrts and incentives t imprve cmpetitiveness, there will cntinue be sme parts f the UK where farmers cannt survive n the prfits f fd prductin alne and this needs t be addressed in a new agricultural plicy as well as cntinued effrts t supprt diversificatin. Farmers in the uplands and ther marginal areas are limited t lw intensity grazing which has small prfit margins and is ften mre expsed t market Cuntryside Alliance Briefing Nte Rural Ecnmy Huse f Lrds Debate, 2 Nvember 2017 Page 4 f 12

5 vlatility than ther sectrs f the industry. Their wrk, hwever, ften prvides the mst amunt f public gd in maintaining and imprving sme f ur mst icnic rural landscapes, n which rests much f the UK s vitally imprtant turism sectr. A new agricultural plicy shuld target supprt payments t thse farmers wh are prviding the mst amunt f public gd but are nt rewarded fr this by the market. Farming in upland and marginal areas is ften central t the ecnmic and scial life f sme f ur mst rural cmmunities. As well as supprt payments helping t keep livestck n the hills, they als help t keep the lcal schl pen and prvide emplyment in the wider rural ecnmy frm shps and garages t htels and pubs. The imprtance f supprt payments t rural cmmunities needs t be recgnised when develping a new agricultural plicy as withut this supprt many f the mst rural cmmunities face the prspect f becming unsustainable. The scpe and level f funding f the new agricultural plicy will be cnstrained by Wrld Trade Organisatin (WTO) rules which state that the amunt f payment shall be limited t the extra csts r lss f incme invlved in cmplying with gvernment prgrammes. The principle f incme fregne limits the extent t which payments can be used t supprt the prvisin f public gd when there is n market fr this and the UK Gvernment will need t cnsider hw best t prvide supprt whilst remaining cmpliant with WTO trade rules. Cuntryside Alliance calls fr: A fully funded agricultural plicy with supprt payments targeted at thse farmers wh are prviding the mst amunt f public gd but nt being rewarded fr this by the market. The interests f farmers in the uplands, and ther marginal areas, t be safeguarded in any new trade arrangements, recgnising that this type f farming prvides a vital public gd in maintaining sme f ur mst icnic rural landscapes and their cmmunities. Agricultural Wrkers As part f the Single Market, ur fd and farming industry benefits frm the free mvement f peple which has prvided access t labur frm acrss Eurpe. Peple frm the EU play an imprtant rle in harvesting, prductin and prcessing acrss the fd supply chain, in bth skilled and unskilled jbs. The UK Gvernment must cnsider hw ur future relatinship with the EU will enable peple t travel t this cuntry t wrk in ur fd and farming industry, particularly at imprtant times f the year. UK farmers and prducers emply ver 80,000 seasnal wrkers every year, the vast majrity f these peple cme frm cuntries within the EU. There are indicatins that it has already becme difficult t recruit peple frm the EU fllwing the referendum result. The decrease in the value f sterling cmbined with uncertainty abut the UK s future relatinship with the EU has reduced the appeal f wrking in the UK fr sme peple. In rder t ensure that UK farmers and prducers are able t attract the labur they require, it is vital that the UK Gvernment prvides clarity n travel and migratin arrangements as sn as pssible. The UK Gvernment shuld als cnsider the reintrductin f the Seasnal Agricultural Wrkers Scheme (SAWS), r similar scheme, which allws a persn t enter a cuntry Cuntryside Alliance Briefing Nte Rural Ecnmy Huse f Lrds Debate, 2 Nvember 2017 Page 5 f 12

6 t undertake a specific rle with a specific emplyer fr a set perid f time. The UK Gvernment remved the SAWS in 2013 fllwing the remval f freedm f mvement restrictins n peple frm Rmania and Bulgaria. The reintrductin f the SAWS, r similar scheme, culd be ne way t help UK farmers and prducers in the event f remval f freedm f mvement after the UK leaves the EU. Any new travel scheme fr agricultural wrkers shuld als include the requirements f ther land-based industries such as frestry, shting and game farming. Game farmers are nt included in the definitin f 'agriculture' in the Agriculture Act 1947, s any new scheme will need t adpt a brader definitin f agriculture t ensure that peple frm the EU can cntinue t wrk n UK game farms. Cuntryside Alliance calls fr: The UK Gvernment t reintrduce the Seasnal Agricultural Wrkers Scheme, r a similar scheme, which allws a persn t enter a cuntry t undertake a specific rle with a specific emplyer fr a set perid f time. Fd Labelling Leaving the EU prvides an pprtunity t address the issue f fd labelling. The cntinuing lack f clarity n fd labelling, particularly cuntry f rigin, remains an issue f cncern t British farmers, prducers and cnsumers alike. Withut clear labelling identifying the cuntry f rigin, and ther imprtant infrmatin, British farmers and prducers are nt able t take advantage f the desire amngst cnsumers t buy British. The lack f mandatry cuntry f rigin fd labelling cntinues t place British farmers at a disadvantage when much f their cmpetitin cmes frm prducers in cuntries, which are nt subject t such rbust animal welfare legislatin and standards and the assciated csts. Fr example higher welfare standards were intrduced in the UK fr pig prductin hwever prk prducts cntinue t be imprted int the UK and labelled as British despite riginating in cuntries with lwer welfare standards, even within the EU. The 2013 hrsemeat scandal highlighted the vital imprtance f clear fd labelling, particularly with respect t prcessed meat prducts. The intrductin f legislatin making it a legal requirement fr the cuntry f rigin t be included n prcessed meat and prducts cntaining meat wuld supprt British farmers and prvide cnsumers with greater chice and cnfidence. Turism in rural areas has huge ptential t supprt lcal farmers and prducers. One f the main grwth areas is fd and drink turism, which can generate a year rund turism ffer and represents a majr cmpnent f turism expenditure in rural areas. Prmting lcal fd and drink as part f a turism strategy can deliver additinal ecnmic and envirnmental benefits; including supprting diversificatin f farms and prducer businesses, creating additinal demands fr skills and training, and reducing fd miles and carbn emissins. Ttal turism expenditure n lcal fd and drink has been estimated by Defra t ttal 2.6 billin acrss England in 2013, f which 1.4 billin was estimated t be spent in rural areas. This suggests that turists accunt fr 50 percent f lcal fd and drink sales in rural areas (cmprising 5 per cent f sales in retailers and 63 per cent in fd Cuntryside Alliance Briefing Nte Rural Ecnmy Huse f Lrds Debate, 2 Nvember 2017 Page 6 f 12

7 service utlets). This expenditure is estimated t supprt 81,000 jbs and cntributes 1.5 billin (GVA) t the rural ecnmy. Our new relatinship with the EU and any new trade deals with nn-eu cuntries must prtect market equality by ensuring that imprts are prduced t UK standards and prduct labelling shuld clearly distinguish cuntry f rigin and prductin methds in a way that is clear and nt misleading. The UK prduces sme f the best fd in the wrld, with the highest standards f safety and animal welfare. Our new relatinship with the EU, and new trade deals with nn-eu cuntries, must prtect these standards and allw ur prduce t be prmted glbally and cmpete n the basis f quality. The EU has established mandatry cuntry f rigin labelling fr beef, lamb, prk and pultry. Hwever, this des nt include fds where the meat is prcessed r an ingredient, such as sausages and ready meals. Therefre it remains the case that sausages made in the UK using Danish prk can still legally be labelled as British. The intrductin f legislatin making it a legal requirement fr the cuntry f rigin t be included n fd cntaining meat wuld help supprt farmers by prviding UK cnsumers with greater chice and cnfidence. The EU Cmmissin has resisted calls t extend mandatry cuntry f rigin labelling t milk and dairy prducts n the grunds that such a mve wuld be t cstly and bureaucratic. We believe that cnsumers wuld be willing t pay mre fr this infrmatin and we wuld welcme legislatin extending mandatry cuntry f rigin labelling t these prducts, building n the wrk that has already been dne under vluntary schemes. The UK Gvernment shuld als explre ptins fr extending mandatry fd labelling t ther fds such as cereals, fruit and vegetables. The UK has a wide range f reginal and speciality fd prducers which shuld be prmted at hme and abrad. The quality and authenticity f these prducts is ften recgnised in their labelling, such as Lakeland Herdwick lamb and muttn, frm purebred Herdwick sheep in the Lake District. Fr prducers, these labels help t add value t their prducts, which ften have high csts f prductin, and ensure their standards can be maintained. The UK currently has a ttal f 73 prducts that benefit frm prtected gegraphical r traditinal status under EU law and the UK Gvernment shuld lk t develp its wn system f legal recgnitin fr prduct names utside f the EU. The UK Gvernment must ensure that the three existing types f EU prtected prduct names: Prtected Gegraphical Indicatin (Sctch Beef), Prtected Designatin f Origin (Lakeland Herdwick), and Traditinal Speciality Guaranteed (Traditinal Glucestershire Old Spt Prk), cntinue t have the same level f prtectin bth in UK and EU markets. It is als imprtant that this prtectin is included in any new trade deals with nn-eu cuntries, which may invlve wrking t develp trademark prtectin in cuntries that UK prducers exprt t. Cuntryside Alliance calls fr: Develpment f a cmprehensive fd labelling plicy and the extensin f mandatry cuntry f rigin labelling t lightly prcessed meats and sme dairy prducts. Cuntryside Alliance Briefing Nte Rural Ecnmy Huse f Lrds Debate, 2 Nvember 2017 Page 7 f 12

8 The cntinuatin and develpment f prtectins fr reginal and speciality fd and drink prducts in rder t supprt UK farmers and prducers. Rural Ecnmy and Services Turism Turism is vitally imprtant fr many rural areas, sustaining jbs in a number f areas frm accmmdatin and hspitality t leisure and retail, which supprts the wider rural ecnmy. In 2015 the UK received the highest number f internatinal visitrs since recrds began (1961), with 36.1 millin visitrs, helping t generate mre than 62 billin fr the UK ecnmy. Visitrs frm the EU are an imprtant part f ur turist market. In 2015 mre than 60 per cent f internatinal hliday visitrs and mre than 70 per cent f business visitrs t the UK were frm cuntries within the EU. Rural turism in the UK benefits frm visa-free travel between cuntries within the EU and it is imprtant that this cntinues fr shrt leisure and business trips after we leave the EU. Any additinal bureaucracy r csts n travel t the UK frm the EU wuld place the UK at a disadvantage with ther Eurpean turist destinatins as far as EU natinals are cncerned. As well as maintaining access t the Eurpean turist market, the UK Gvernment shuld take the pprtunity f leaving the EU t pen new turist markets. Enhanced visa services have already increased the number f visitrs frm China and this is a mdel which the UK Gvernment shuld cnsider adpting with ther cuntries. This shuld be cmbined with increased funding f Visit Britain and the GREAT campaign t ensure that the UK, and in particular the cuntryside, is prmted glbally as a turist destinatin. Turism specifically assciated with cuntry sprts is als an imprtant ecnmic cntributr in many rural cmmunities, particularly in the winter mnths when incme frm ther frms f turism is ften reduced. It is essential that cuntry sprts in the UK remain easily accessible t peple frm the EU. In 2014/15 a ttal f 8,810 Visitr Permits were granted in England and Wales fr peple t bring firearms int the UK fr game r sprt shting. There are als large numbers f peple wh travel t EU cuntries fr shting, hunting and fishing. In 2014/15 a ttal f 15,677 Eurpean Firearms Passes were granted by plice frces in England in Wales enabling UK citizens t travel t the EU. Cuntryside Alliance calls fr: The cntinuatin f visa-free travel between the UK and cuntries within the EU. Cntinued access t, and acceptance f, the Eurpean Firearms Pass. A turism strategy which recgnises the cntributin made by cuntry sprts turism t the rural ecnmy. Shting and the Game Market Shting and hunting benefit frm trade with cuntries within the EU acrss a number f areas. As a member f the Single Market and Custms Unin, this trade is currently Cuntryside Alliance Briefing Nte Rural Ecnmy Huse f Lrds Debate, 2 Nvember 2017 Page 8 f 12

9 tariff-free and avids ther frictins t trade. It is vital that the interests f peple wh sht and hunt are cnsidered as part f ur new relatinship with the EU. In particular the majrity f firearms that are used in this cuntry are imprted frm cuntries within the EU, particularly Spain and Italy. Imprters currently enjy excellent relatinships with manufacturers based in cuntries within the EU and have few prblems imprting int this cuntry. The UK Gvernment shuld seek t maintain tarifffree trade with the EU in firearms, cmpnent parts, and ammunitin. It is als imprtant that imprts d nt face ther barriers t trade, such as an increase in bureaucracy and regulatin which have the ptential t disrupt the supply chain and add t csts. Capital expenditure n firearms and ammunitin in the UK is ver 150 millin every year and apprximately 820 jbs in the UK are directly linked t the manufacture, sale r servicing f firearms alne. It is vital that these jbs and investment are supprted as part f ur new relatinship with the EU and in any new trade deals with nn-eu cuntries. Similarly, the EU is an imprtant exprt market fr game meat which must be recgnised. Cuntryside Alliance calls fr: The interests f peple wh sht and hunt t be cnsidered as part f ur new relatinship with the EU. Cntinued tariff free and frictinless trade in firearms, ammunitin and parts fr sprting purpses. Cntinued access t the EU fr UK prduced game meat. Cnservatin, Fisheries and Wildlife Management Farmers play a vital rle in cnservatin. Using the skills and experience f farmers is ften the best way t imprve bidiversity and secure the future f ur vital natural resurces. The EU has develped nature cnservatin plicy that is cmprehensive and ambitius cmpared with many ther parts f the wrld. It has been a driving frce fr establishing and strengthening wildlife and habitat prtectin and this shuld be cntinued after we leave the EU. The UK Gvernment and the Devlved Administratins shuld take the pprtunity f leaving the EU t review existing levels f wildlife and habitat prtectin t ensure that they are fit fr purpse and apprpriate fr the UK, as well as fulfilling ur internatinal bligatins. This is an imprtant pprtunity t develp a sustainable nature cnservatin plicy that balances the particular requirements f UK species and habitats while taking accunt f ur ecnmic and scial requirements. There is abundant evidence that where land is managed fr the benefit f game, ther species naturally flurish and many shts undertake cnservatin wrk fr its wn sake. Nearly 2 millin hectares in the UK are actively managed fr cnservatin as a result f shting, with shts spending 250 millin each year n cnservatin wrk. As we leave the EU, it is vital that decisins abut wildlife prtectin are nt used t prmte an anti-shting agenda by changing the status f existing quarry species. Cuntryside Alliance Briefing Nte Rural Ecnmy Huse f Lrds Debate, 2 Nvember 2017 Page 9 f 12

10 The UK Gvernment shuld cntinue t cperate clsely with the EU n bisecurity t help prevent and cntain utbreaks f ptentially damaging diseases such as avian influenza which are a significant threat t wild and reared birds. One f the mst imprtant areas f EU envirnmental plicy has been water quality and the impact f EU Directives n the UK has been highly significant. The mst imprtant change ver recent decades has been n waste water treatment which has led t significant imprvements in the quality f rivers and castal waters. Many EU Directives aimed at imprving water quality are als vitally imprtant fr prtecting fish, their habitats, and a range f ther wildlife. Many fish stcks in and arund the UK are in decline, but prtectin f EU Directives has generally slwed this decline and in sme cases, particularly urban rivers, has led t a partial rehabilitatin f stcks. Water quality shuld remain key t the develpment f a natinal fisheries plicy, cvering bth marine and freshwater fish, taking greater accunt f the interests and requirements f recreatinal fisheries. Cuntryside Alliance calls fr: Maintenance f envirnmental imprvements, particularly in water quality, and develp a natinal fisheries plicy which supprts recreatinal fishing. Recgnitin f the imprtance f traditinal management in creating and maintaining ur icnic cuntryside landscapes and their cmmunities, and ensure this is supprted utside f the EU. A cnsistent and evidence based apprach t the management f wildlife acrss all species. Digital Cnnectivity A number f measures were annunced in the Budget earlier this year including 16 millin t create a new Natinal 5G Innvatin Netwrk t trial and demnstrate 5G applicatins and 200 millin t rll ut a series f lcal prjects t accelerate market delivery f fast and reliable full-fibre bradband t mre hmes and businesses. It is vital that the Gvernment ensures that rural areas are nt frgtten in delivering fibre and 5G technlgy. The Cuntryside Alliance believes that high speed bradband is an essential service alngside water, electricity and gas; but is nwhere near as available in rural areas as it is in urban areas. This view is shared by Ofcm and highlighted in their Cnnected Natins Reprt published in December Cntinued pr cnnectivity in rural areas represents a huge missed pprtunity fr ecnmic develpment and these gaps and weaknesses need t be addressed as a pririty. Reliable bradband is essential fr cmpetitive and successful enterprises in a grwing digital ecnmy. It is vital that rural cmmunities and businesses have access t effective and affrdable bradband if the digital divide between rural and urban areas in the UK is nt t grw any wider. 1.4 millin premises remain unable t access bradband speeds ver 10 Mbit/s, the speeds required t meet a typical husehld s digital needs, which is als the prpsed speed f the Gvernment s Universal Service Obligatin. This is dwn frm arund 2.4 millin in 2015 althugh 960,000 premises in rural areas are still unable t access Cuntryside Alliance Briefing Nte Rural Ecnmy Huse f Lrds Debate, 2 Nvember 2017 Page 10 f 12

11 dwnlad speeds abve 10 Mbit/s. Superfast bradband, measured at 30 Mbit/s, is nw available t 89 per cent f UK hmes althugh nly 59 per cent f hmes in rural areas are able t access superfast speeds. There is still a lt mre t d, particularly in bsting mbile and bradband cverage, and imprving the quality f service prvided by telecms cmpanies. Fr example, rural areas still lag behind n bradband, with arund a quarter f rural prperties unable t get a 10 Mbit/s cnnectin and 4G cverage in rural areas is nly 37 per cent f landmass, cmpared t 89 per cent in twns and cities. The Cuntryside Alliance welcmed the Digital Ecnmy Act and we hpe that the Act will ensure that digital cnnectivity is delivered in rural areas. One f the main bstacles t high speed bradband and mbile cnnectivity in rural areas is the lack f infrastructure able t supprt high speed cnnectins. The Cuntryside Alliance als welcmes the intrductin f a Universal Service Obligatin (USO) f 10Mbit/s fr bradband speeds acrss the cuntry. Hwever, the UK Gvernment needs t cnsider hw the USO is ging t be delivered and allcate resurces t ensure that 10Mbit/s can be accessed in all premises acrss the UK, including rural areas. Cuntryside Alliance calls fr: The full implementatin f the Universal Service Obligatin under the Digital Ecnmy Act When we leave the EU the Gvernment must seek t be at least as ambitius as the EU in digital cnnectivity and where pssible t exceed EU targets. Gvernment t prmte and supprt alternative technlgies, such as satellite and mbile bradband, which can deliver cnnectivity t remter rural areas. Husing The shrtage f affrdable husing is ne f the greatest challenges fr cmmunities acrss the cuntry. It is a particular prblem fr yung peple and families, and has serius cnsequences fr the sustainability f cmmunities. The need fr mre husing stck is nt just an issue in twns and cities. Many rural areas are als suffering frm a lack f husing, especially affrdable husing. Ppulatin grwth, cmbined with migratin frm urban areas, has seen the rural ppulatin grw by 800,000 in the last decade accrding t the Office fr Natinal Statistics, driving up huse prices and pricing many families ut f the cmmunities in which they wrk and in which they have ften been brught up. In 2006, in a reprt by the Cmmissin fr Rural Cmmunities, it was estimated that mre than 30,000 affrdable hmes needed building in rural areas each year t meet need. Hwever, since then, the average number f hmes built has been arund 8,000, leaving a significant shrtfall. Rural huse prices are much higher, rural wages are much lwer and the gap between them is widening particularly fr agricultural wrkers. There is a premium fr rural husing in all parts f the cuntry and prperty prices in the cuntryside are, n average, 43,490 (22 per cent) higher than in urban areas accrding t the Halifax Husing Survey Cuntryside Alliance Briefing Nte Rural Ecnmy Huse f Lrds Debate, 2 Nvember 2017 Page 11 f 12

12 Research by the Natinal Husing Federatin fund that in 77 per cent f rural lcal authrities, huse prices are utstripping average incmes faster than the rate f the natinal average. In 69 rural lcal authrities, huse prices were mre than the natinal average rate f 6.8 times average wages. The average rural wrker wuld need a wage rise f arund 150 per cent just t be able t buy a hme. We are cncerned that these factrs have nt been fully addressed in the Gvernment s recent Husing and Planning Act and that the extensin f Right t Buy t Husing Assciatin prperties in rural areas will further deplete affrdable husing stck as there is n bligatin t replace huses that are sld ff. The prpsals culd be an pprtunity t enable Lcal Authrities t wrk with cmmunities and Husing Assciatins t develp small grups f affrdable husing fr lcal peple t rent r buy, where they meet criteria f lcal supprt, gd design, and are affrdable in perpetuity. We als believe the Gvernment shuld implement a number f prpsals, cnsulted n by the last Labur Gvernment, t prvide incentives fr landwners t bring frward land fr affrdable husing. The Cuntryside Alliance has als used the Gvernment s Rural Planning Review t call fr changes t permitted develpment rights which wuld mean farmers n lnger have t chse between their residential r agricultural permitted develpment. Under ur prpsals farmers will have greater flexibility n when they are able t use their Class Q rights t cnvert frm agricultural t residential use which will help deliver sustainable husing develpment whilst als supprting farmers wh are facing sme f the mst difficult trading cnditins in a generatin. Cuntryside Alliance calls fr: Planning system that is efficient with planning plicies that supprt sustainable rural life and businesses; including better use f permitted develpment rights. Gvernment t implement measures t incentivise landwners t bring frward land fr affrdable husing. Lcally led prvisin f affrdable lcal husing t meet lcal need. Fr mre infrmatin please cntact: Sarah Lee Head f Plicy Sarah-lee@cuntryside-alliance.rg James Smerville-Meikle Plitical Relatins Manager James-sm@cuntryside-alliance.rg Cuntryside Alliance Briefing Nte Rural Ecnmy Huse f Lrds Debate, 2 Nvember 2017 Page 12 f 12