News

Commission for Rural Communities to be abolished (30th June 2010)

As part of the review of Defra’s arms length bodies, the Commission for Rural Communities will be abolished, with a strengthened Rural Communities Policy Unit within Defra.

In a written ministerial statement the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Caroline Spelman said

"The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) is a Defra funded Non-Departmental Public Body that was established under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act on 1 October 2006.

The Government believes policy advice should be carried out by Departments, not arms length bodies. Defra will, therefore, reinforce its capacity to undertake rural work within the Department; a strengthened Rural Communities Policy Unit will work across Government to ensure that the interests of rural communities are fully reflected in policies and programmes."

It is intended that the forthcoming Public Bodies (Reform) Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech will provide the legislative vehicle under which the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) will stop operating.

< Back to news