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Government must listen to rural advocate, says David Heath

David Heath has asked Harriet Harman for a debate on rural issues.

Speaking during Business Questions last week, Mr Heath said that he was concerned that he does “not hear the Prime Minister talking about rural issues.

Mr Heath’s comments came after the Rural Advocate, Dr Stuart Burgess sent his annual report on what is happening in Britain’s rural areas to Gordon Brown. Mr Heath asked what happened to the report after it had been sent to the Prime Minister.

During his speech Mr Heath commented on the unemployment rate of those aged between 16 and 24 in rural areas, he cited the figure 40 per cent.

In Ms Harman’s response, she asked Mr Heath to raise housing issues with the housing minister, but she failed to answer his questions about the Prime Ministers interest in rurality.

Mr Heath said: "Time and again I have asked this government to pay greater attention to rural issues. They simply cannot continue to ignore the issues that are faced by communities such as those within Somerton and Frome."

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