RURAL POVERTY

That this House welcomes the publication `Rural disadvantage: Priorities for action' by the Commission for Rural Communites; notes that one in five people live in poverty in rural areas and that nearly half of those in poverty are in working households; recognises that poor access to transport, employment, health services, the Post Office and other services such as information technology can further isolate those who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly; and calls on the Government to ensure that central and local decision making takes into account rural communities and that policies encourage local opportunities as well as tackling rural disadvantage.