Farming in the Uplands - ARCHIVE: Defra

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34 Farming in the Uplands business tool or a source for new information. Tellingly, AHDB had found that “access and speed of broadband technology is acutely felt in remote rural areas”. 191 90. Defra’s Business Plan includes a commitment to “...deliver universal broadband at speeds of 2mbps and stimulate private sector investment to deliver the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015”. 192 The Minister told us that Richard Benyon, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries, who leads on rural issues in Defra, was working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on rural broadband. 193 91. As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Government announced that super-fast broadband would be trialled in the Highlands, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Herefordshire. The BBC will contribute £300m towards the £530m total cost of funding rural broadband. The remainder has been set aside from the surplus from digital switchover funding. During our evidence session with the Secretary of State following the Comprehensive Spending Review, Caroline Spelman told us that “...increasingly farmers are encouraged or almost expected to provide their interaction online. A very important part of the spending review was a decision by DCMS to improve rural broadband provision, so in fact farmers can access that”. 194 92. The internet is a critical business tool. The efficiency of upland farming will be enhanced by the ability to reliably access information and transact business online. Defra should set out how and by when the super-fast broadband trial will be evaluated. Defra’s uplands strategy action plan should set out where and by when the super-fast broadband trial will be extended, and what resources have been identified to fund an extension of the trial. EMBARGOED ADVANCE COPY: Not to be published in full, or part, in any form before 00.01am GMT Wednesday 16 February 2011 191 Ev 27 192 Defra Business Plan—see http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/what/documents/defra-businessplan-101108.pdf 193 Q 183 194 Qq 86, 16, 11, 10 (HC 611-i)—see Uncorrected transcript of this evidence session at http://www.parliament.uk/efracom/publications
5 Upland communities EMBARGOED ADVANCE COPY: Not to be published in full, or part, in any form before 00.01am GMT Wednesday 16 February 2011 Farming in the Uplands 35 93. In High ground, high potential the CRC emphasised the importance of upland communities: People are essential to the identity of the land and to its future. The landscape has been formed by centuries of human intervention and management and people remain essential to its future development. During our Inquiry we found a strong culture of community cohesion. Many people are connected economically, socially and culturally to the land and to those who manage the land. This strong dynamic connection between land and communities is essential in realising the potential of the uplands. 195 The report goes on to describe the sorts of challenges facing upland communities, for example: We heard concerns about an ageing population and the loss of young people. While this picture is characteristic of most rural areas, we were told of particular issues around the loss of those with the knowledge and understanding of the uplands. A major factor affecting retention and attraction of young people and families is the cost of housing. In common with many other rural areas, high demand from incomers to areas of landscape beauty, coupled with low supply, relatively lower local wages and restrictive planning arrangements mean that little housing is available for young people and those on low wages. 196 94. Much of our evidence emphasised the inter-relatedness of hill farming, upland communities. The AHDB state that: Upland livestock farms play a pivotal role in rural communities which exist in these regions, by way of their employment, contribution to the rural economy, its associated supply industry and use of local services, plus the social networking aspects of rural life through community events such as Agricultural shows, weekly livestock markets and regular Young Farmers activities. 197 Similarly, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England stated that “...hill farming communities of England are an essential element of the social fabric of the uplands”. 198 Planning and housing 95. In High ground, high potential the CRC made a series of recommendations under the heading ‘Planning to enable sustainable upland communities’ directed to the Department 195 High ground, high potential, p 7 196 High ground, high potential, p 7 197 Ev w26 198 Ev w27
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Farming in the Uplands - ARCHIVE: Defra

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