The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Action group in bid to ‘grow’ rural economy
Need to become ‘driving force behind not just our national brand, but also our national prosperity’
The Scottish Government has announced the creation of a group to drive forward recommendations by the National Council of Rural Advisers (NCRA).
In its final report, the NCRA – an independent body tasked with giving advice and recommendations on rural policy to the Scottish Government – called for a radical change in attitudes towards rural policy.
It said the rural sector must be included in all policy and decisionmaking processes, and an interim rural economic framework was needed to develop and implement a new approach and delivery model for rural policy.
It also called for the creation of a Rural Economy Action Group, announced yesterday by the government.
The group will be led by the government’s head of social policy, Carol Tannahill.
However, full membership of the group has not yet been confirmed.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “As we edge ever closer to leaving the EU at the end of March and the risk of leaving with no deal in place growing, there has never been a more important time to ensure that our rural economy is mainstreamed into everything we do.
“That is why, having listened to the National Council of Rural Advisers, I am delighted to announce that Carol Tannahill has agreed to chair the new Rural Economy Action Group, which will immediately seek to guide how Scottish ministers drive forward the council’s recommendations to grow a vibrant, sustainable and inclusive rural economy.
“Scotland’s rural economy is bursting with talent and potential. By ensuring effective mainstreaming of rural policy into all of our policy thinking and delivery, I am determined to ensure that our rural economy becomes the driving force behind not just our national brand, but also our national prosperity.”
NCRA co-chairman Lorne Crerar welcomed the news and said the group would help ensure the creation of a “robust rural economic strategy to be embedded in our national aspirations”.
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Scotland’s rural economy is bursting with talent and potential. FERGUS EWING