THE Countryside Alliance's ten-point agenda endorses the Government's policies and priorities, Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael said on Monday.

The Minister responded following Sunday's march, calling on the Countryside Alliance to work with ministers and other organisations to help rural communities and avoid creating divisions in the countryside.

"Earlier this year we established the Rural Affairs Forum, on which the Countryside Alliance has a seat," said Mr Michael. He urged the Alliance to help make that a success, rather than diverting energy into yet another new organisation such as setting up a rural council.

"The Alliance has had a seat at the table for the public hearings of expert evidence on hunting with dogs, which they and the two other umbrella groups - the Campaign for the Hunted Animal and the Middle Way Group - helped to devise," he said. "I can certainly tell them that my conclusions will be based on what we heard, on the evidence and the principles clearly set out in my statement to the House in March."

Mr Michael said the Government was already taking a lead on all other issues set out in the Alliance's agenda for action.

"Alliance leaders know that I have demonstrated my willingness to work with them for the good of rural communities," he added.

"A further body, with the further bureaucracy it would entail, will surely delay the good progress we are making."

He assured the Alliance that the Government would make a formal response to its statement shortly: "But it must be understood that we seek to govern for the whole country and for every community. I appeal to those who want to promote the interests of rural communities to recognise the needs and problems faced by urban communities and not to give credence to the misconception of an urban-rural divide. In reality they are interdependent; we need each other.