Minister faces rural policy headache

02 September 1999

Minister faces rural policy headache

JOHN PRESCOTT, the minister with responsibility for the environment, transport and the regions, faces problems over the governments rural policies, reports the Financial Times.

The FT says the ministry could run into political difficulties trying to balance support for commercial farming with commitments it has made on the environment.

Another concern is the amount of traffic on rural roads, which is set to more than double over the next 30 years, according to estimates by the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

The paper identifies pressure for new housing in rural areas as a related problem.

• Financial Times 02/09/99 page 7