Foreword by the Secretary of State for Wales

This Rural White Paper sets out the Government's vision for rural Wales. Our rural areas are some of our greatest assets. Characterised by beautiful scenery, they provide the setting for the life of many communities, and sustain not only families and businesses but also a great diversity of wildlife.

The sights and sounds of rural life are part of the enduring way in which people have lived and worked for generations but it is not a life without change. Our market towns and villages owe their very existence to the fact that they were places where people came together to trade and the landscape itself has had its contours formed and landmarks placed by the economic activities of centuries.

A vibrant and strong rural economy is the key to a healthy environment, not a barrier to it. In this paper, we have sought to find ways to lift the burden of red tape on farmers and rural businesses, to re-create that vital spirit of enterprise in many of our rural communities so that local people can build businesses and create jobs. It is enterprise that makes rural life possible and helps to create that sense of continuity and feeling of community that we all value.

The rural community is not just a place of work. It is also a place of family life and a place of learning. That is why we have taken the initiative to encourage affordable housing, to keep village schools open, to help the village hall, and the village shop. These institutions often provide an invaluable network of connections that bind communities together. We want to support them.

We are also committed to improving the services to the people who live and work in rural Wales. In this paper, we have set out new ways of supporting and enhancing public services in rural areas, including health and social services and education.

Rural Wales must also be linked to the centres of population if it is to survive and prosper. We are determined to unlock the potential of the tourist and food industries. New enterprises and technologies must also be allowed to grow and flourish. The information age, in particular, offers a new era of hope and opportunity for many rural areas. Like no other economic revolution, it promises to make geographical location irrelevant and will open up a vast communications network, connecting rural areas with people and businesses across the world.

Our rural environment should be a living entity that connects our ancestors with the living. Our stewardship should enable us to pass on this heritage to future generations. The Countryside Council for Wales will have a central role to play in this, as will many others, including local government and the private sector.

This White Paper points the way for the future of rural Wales. Its policy statements demonstrate our commitment to the rural economy, and to the environment. It is now up to all of us to make use of it to safeguard and improve our common inheritance.

The Rt. Hon. William Hague MP