THE government is asking how best to spend money that will help shape the countryside and rural economy.

THE campaign for fairer rural funding is being stepped up after the government dismissed any imbalance between urban and rural areas.

THE government has rejected claims that rural local authorities get a raw funding deal compared to urban areas.

MPs press the case for a fairer funding settlement for rural local authorities during a House of Commons debate.

MPs are to debate the issue of local authority funding.

RURAL residents have just one week left to get behind calls for a fairer rural funding deal for countryside communities.

DEFRA secretary Owen Paterson has urged local authorities and other service providers to buy more locally-sourced food.

Environment secretary Owen Paterson is to address rural local authority leaders at a major conference.

Local authorities have defended a £2.6bn increase in council reserves, saying it is justified given uncertain funding for services.

RURAL councils across England are adding their weight to a campaign for a fairer government funding deal. It follows calls to challenge the central government formula, which decides how much