Rural Scotland People, Prosperity and Partnership

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The Scottish National Rural Partnership

Building on the firm foundation provided by the Rural Focus Group, we now propose to establish the Scottish National Rural Partnership whose work should include:

• as its main task, support and advice to the local Rural Partnership Groups;

• encouraging and co-ordinating the establishment of local rural partnerships throughout Scotland;

• advising Ministers on the disbursement of the new Scottish Rural Partnership Fund;

• keeping under review progress towards the overall aims of rural policy;

• sponsoring and overseeing a programme of research, using the wealth of relevant talent in Scotland, with the aim of identifying and disseminating information on good practice in local rural development.

Its membership would be based on that of the Rural Focus Group, but we will consider whether membership should be extended in some areas, for example a strengthened representation of the main land-owning and land-user groups. We would look for continued commitment from each of its constituent bodies reinforced by an annual meeting of the chairs of each organisation to review achievements over the past year and to determine the programme for the next.

We recognise that it is for Government to take a lead in the development of the Scottish Rural Partnership network. Following publication of more detailed guidance, we will work with other rural organisations to mount a major conference in the spring of 1996 to bring together rural communities, Government agencies, the private sector and voluntary groups to pool expertise and concert action.

The Scottish National Rural Partnership