Rural Development Service
Encyclopedia
The Rural Development Service (RDS) was formerly part of the UK Government
's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Defra). It ceased to exist on 1 October 2006 following the creation of Natural England
.
's regional service centres.
The RDS was charged with the implementation of the England Rural Development Programme
(ERDP), as well as a range of other rural services, placing the agency at the forefront of change in rural areas. The RDS employed 1,500 staff, working with rural partners and local people to improve the environment, promote the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity and develop stronger rural economies and communities.
Following a review by Christopher Haskins, Baron Haskins of Skidby
, enacted in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities 2006 in March 2006, the agri-environment element of the RDS was integrated with English Nature
and most of the Countryside Agency
on 1 October 2006 to form Natural England
. Smaller elements of the RDS went to the State Veterinary Service
and the Regional Development Agency
in each English region.
Politics of the United Kingdom
The politics of the United Kingdom takes place within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is the head of state and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government...
's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom...
(Defra). It ceased to exist on 1 October 2006 following the creation of Natural England
Natural England
Natural England is the non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils, are protected and improved...
.
History
RDS was created in 2001, when the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency merged with the then Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodMinistry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a United Kingdom government department created by the Board of Agriculture Act 1889 and at that time called the Board of Agriculture, and then from 1903 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and from 1919 the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries...
's regional service centres.
The RDS was charged with the implementation of the England Rural Development Programme
England Rural Development Programme
England Rural Development Programme was the instrument by which the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs fulfills its rural development obligations in England, as set out by the European Union. It is derived primarily from Council Regulation European Union Regulation No...
(ERDP), as well as a range of other rural services, placing the agency at the forefront of change in rural areas. The RDS employed 1,500 staff, working with rural partners and local people to improve the environment, promote the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity and develop stronger rural economies and communities.
Following a review by Christopher Haskins, Baron Haskins of Skidby
Christopher Haskins, Baron Haskins of Skidby
Christopher Robin Haskins, Baron Haskins , is a British/Irish businessman, and former member of the British Labour Party....
, enacted in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities 2006 in March 2006, the agri-environment element of the RDS was integrated with English Nature
English Nature
English Nature was the United Kingdom government agency that promoted the conservation of wildlife, geology and wild places throughout England between 1990 and 2006...
and most of the Countryside Agency
Countryside Agency
The Countryside Agency in England was a statutory body set up in 1999 with the task of improving the quality of the rural environment and the lives of those living in it. The Agency was formed by merging the Countryside Commission and the Rural Development Commission...
on 1 October 2006 to form Natural England
Natural England
Natural England is the non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils, are protected and improved...
. Smaller elements of the RDS went to the State Veterinary Service
State Veterinary Service
The State Veterinary Service was an executive agency of the UK government department the . It was the government's delivery agent responsible for animal health and welfare in England, Scotland and Wales....
and the Regional Development Agency
Regional Development Agency
In the United Kingdom, a regional development agency is a non-departmental public body established for the purpose of development, primarily economic, of one of England's Government Office regions. There is one RDA for each of the NUTS level 1 regions of England...
in each English region.