INVITATION to submit evidence
The APPG is a group of MPs and Peers, across all parties, who have a shared interest in coastal areas. They meet at least three times during the year, along with other stakeholders, to debate issues of common concern. As Parliamentarians they have a unique insight into government and an inside track on national policy. It is the only body which brings people together at a national level to consider UK policy in coastal areas. Established in 2006, the group has to date tracked the progress of the Marine Bill, and has investigated the issue of social justice in coastal flood and erosion policy.
Through the APPG, and CoastNet’s wider work, there is anecdotal evidence that there are some rural issues of concern that are peculiar to the coast. How universal are they, and are they sufficiently different from the norm to warrant special attention? Examples include: proportion of holiday homes and associated impacts; isolation from services; poor quality former holiday accommodation now in permanent housing; high vulnerability of ‘permanent’ holiday park residents in flood risk areas.
To gain a better understanding of these matters the APPG has determined to undertake an inquiry, as follows:
Purpose: To establish the factual basis regarding whether the coastal rural areas differ from inland rural areas, or from the general situation in the UK, with regard to a range of measures of deprivation and disadvantage.
Scope: It is proposed to take a whole UK approach. Where it is possible, the inquiry will attempt to establish why matters are different where this is shown to be the case. However, resource constraints will limit the scope of the analysis. Defra definitions of rural settlements will be applied.
Approach: A panel of MP’s (minimum of three, cross-party) will be established by application. A general invitation to submit evidence will be widely distributed. Evidence submitted will be logged, then categorised. A selection of respondents will be invited to attend oral evidence sessions of the Panel of MPs, of which there will be no more than three sessions. An expert group drawn from the Inquiry Coalition will analyse the evidence and write the final report. CoastNet will coordinate the whole process.
Timing: The deadline to submit evidence will be 30th March 2009. Panel meetings will take place between April and June. The Inquiry will report in October 2009.
Partners: A small coalition has been established to contribute to this work. It comprises CoastNet, the Commission for Rural Communities, the English Local Government Association (through the coastal special interest group), and Exeter University (Geography Department).
Outcomes: A report. Raised awareness. Possibly an Efra Select Committee inquiry.
Form of evidence:
First and foremost we require a written summary setting out separate points of interest and concern clearly and succinctly. For example, a single issue might comprise a number of separate points of concern: a coastal settlement characterised by a higher level of multiple deprivation might exhibit a number of underlying factors such as poor access to services, a vulnerable elderly population, or poor quality housing stock for example.
Please take time to think through the issues that you want to present to us carefully, so that you can draw our attention to underlying factors wherever possible, rather than simply the more obvious impacts of the issue.
You may have undertaken some research into these issues yourselves, or be aware of research by others. Electronic copies of such material will be welcome, as annexes to your summary.
Your evidence will be made public on the CoastNet website.
Please ensure that your submission has been officially sanctioned by your organisation, where appropriate. We understand that this can be a lengthy process in some organisations, and we will accept draft versions in the interim.
We will only take evidence in electronic format. You can submit online at:
http://cms.coastnet.org.uk/?APPG-submission
If you have any difficulties please phone CoastNet on 01206 728644 or email admin@coastnet.org.uk
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