Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006

The Commission and its general purpose

17 Commission for Rural Communities

(1) There is to be a body known as the Commission for Rural Communities.

(2) Schedule 2 contains provisions about the constitution of the Commission and related matters.

18 Commission’s general purpose

(1) The Commission’s general purpose is to promote—

(a) awareness among relevant persons and the public of rural needs, and

(b) meeting rural needs in ways that contribute to sustainable development.

(2) For the purposes of this Chapter “relevant person” means—

(a) a public authority, or

(b) a body which appears to the Commission to be concerned with any aspect of rural needs.7

(3) For the purposes of this Chapter “rural needs” means the social and economic needs of persons in rural areas in England.

(4) In determining the social and economic needs of persons in those areas, particular regard is to be had to the needs of—

(a) persons suffering from social disadvantage, and

(b) areas suffering from economic under-performance.