The Government has responded to the House of Lords Rural Economy Committee’s final report about how Government policy could strengthen rural businesses and communities.
The 2019 ACS Rural Shop Report reveals that rural convenience stores provide flexible jobs for almost 140,000 people, have invested over £271m in improving their businesses, and continue to provide a wide range of services despite slow broadband speeds and unreliable mobile connectivity.
In their response, the Government has committed to ‘expand on its strategic vision’ for rural areas and improve rural proofing for policy making.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Rural convenience retailers are developing their stores to meet the needs of their customers by expanding both their product range and their service offer. They need to know that this investment is backed the government supporting rural shops and the wider rural economy.
“In their response to the Committee’s report, the Government has recognised the challenges that rural communities and businesses face and their plan to reform and rethink the rural proofing process will help to ensure that policy decisions consider the needs of the people living and working in these areas. This is a welcome step forward, and we will continue to engage with the government on the issues affecting rural retailers.”
ACS’ submission called for the Government to consider business infrastructure for rural areas. The submission also outlined support for investment in digital infrastructure as reliable broadband connections and mobile coverage have become essential for rural shops.
In their response, the Government also recognised that access to cash in rural communities remain ‘extremely important’ the 2019 Rural Shop Report found that 44% of rural shops provide access to a cash machine on a free to use basis.
The Government’s full response is available here.
