High quality, affordable, convenient and flexible early years childcare in all rural areas?
We know the early years are a crucial time in every child’s life and that childcare provision can help close attainment and equality gaps and help to transform children’s lives. The Government is aiming to invest an additional £1 billion every year by 2019-2020 to expand early years provision. Will this funding deliver sustainable provision […]
Autonomous driving is here, but what does it mean for rural communities?
The average driver in England spends 235 hours driving every year – equivalent to six working weeks – and must concentrate on driving 100% of the time. Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) are changing this, enabling the driver to choose whether they want to be in control or handover the task of driving to the […]
What’s [rural] in the Industrial Strategy?
In her leadership speech Theresa May set out her aspirations “to get the whole economy firing”. One of her first actions as Prime Minister was to begin the development of an Industrial Strategy. In November 2017 the Government published this much awaited document. Heralded as a new approach to how Government and business can work […]
How can we stop a rural debt spiral?
On 8 November 2017 the Treasury Committee announced a new inquiry into household finances. The Committee will look at the state of UK household balance sheets (including savings levels) and examine indebtedness, inter-generational issues, lifetime financial planning and the effectiveness of the market in providing finance and solutions to low income households. The inquiry comes […]
Policing in the countryside – what more can be done to stop rural crime?
The Metropolitan Police Act 1829 established the Metropolitan Police of London (with the exception of the City), replacing the previous system of parish constables and watchmen. The County and Borough Police Act in 1856 led policing to become a requirement throughout England and Wales, paid for by central Government funds distributed to local government. By […]