The MP for Whitby and Scarborough says her campaign to have a minister dedicated specifically to coastal and rural areas is falling on deaf ears.
Labour MP Alison Hume, who took the Scarborough and Whitby constituency seat two years ago, said she will continue to make the case despite the government saying its current departments were looking after the two sectors.
As well as being coastal towns, Whitby and Scarborough between them have an abundance of rural, farming and isolated areas – all of which, Ms Hume added, are being “overlooked”.
She was speaking at the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee meeting of North Yorkshire Council, where she was questioned on the issue by Coun David Jeffels who represents the Derwent Valley & Moor division.
He said: “This area relies very heavily on farming and tourist industries as indeed does the whole of North Yorkshire.
“My question is, whether you feel you could support and help rural life in this constituency, and rural areas in general, by having a government ministry which would have sole responsibility for such issues, as opposed to being tagged onto an existing department.”
Coun Jeffels said there was a raft of other industries and sectors which indirectly also benefit from farming and tourism sectors including village and community life, schools and shops.
If there was a focus on reviving these, it would also help the economy nationally, he added.
Responding to his question at the meeting at Scarborough Town Hall, Ms Hume said rural economies were crucial to the whole country but she was getting “nowhere” with the case for dedicated rural and coastal ministers.
She said: “A minister for rural communities is a fantastic idea. I caveat that by saying I also think a minister for coastal communities is a great idea.
“I’m getting absolutely nowhere with my campaign on that. The answer is that the current departments, MHCLG and DEFRA, should be able to cover any of the issues faced by rural and coastal communities.
“But like you, I think if there was a person in place with that sole objective, it would really concentrate the mind and actually get something done. I do think rural and coastal communities are overlooked in the current power structure and the way things work.
“You know with growing pressures, for example solar panels on agricultural land and things like that we do need oversight.”
Ms Hume said even though she wasn’t sure a dedicated government minister could be delivered, she said she will continue to try.
