Regenerating Rural Scotland

Regenerating rural Scotland is a priority for the entire Scottish Government, Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years said today.

Speaking at the Girvan Horizons Conference, Mr Ingram said:

"We want to make rural communities places where people want to live not leave. We want to empower our rural communities and people to feel better about themselves and their future

"That means supporting rural communities and the industries that underpin the rural economy. Last month we announced the Rural Priorities scheme, offering community groups, businesses, farmers, foresters and other interested parties a chance to submit their ideas towards a share of almost £800 million to develop rural Scotland.

These are just a few of the many ways that this Government is taking action to reverse the centralisation, neglect and economic underperformance that has been allowed to happen over recent years.

"This is part of the new £1.6 billion Scotland Rural Development Programme. We want to see good projects coming forward which will contribute to our national outcomes. I am sure the past experience of Girvan Horizons would stand them in good stead if they were to go down this route.

"Our approach means things like revitalising local government and community groups - giving local people more control over the things that affect them. That's why we have freed up local council spending, and why we are looking at strengthening the role of community councils in the future.

"It also means supporting the schools that are at the heart of rural communities - that's why we announced last week that we would introduce proposals to safeguard rural schools and to improve consultation before any proposed closures.

"These are just a few of the many ways that this Government is taking action to reverse the centralisation, neglect and economic underperformance that has been allowed to happen over recent years. "

On April 6, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead announced that the funding scheme Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities is now open to interested parties to submit their ideas, offering farmers, foresters, businesses and community groups a share of almost £800 million to develop rural Scotland.

On May 1, proposals to protect rural schools were announced.

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Scottish Government