RURAL areas will be considered in the making of major policy decisions by the government, its spokesman has claimed.

And rural development agencies will be seen as the key players in delivering stronger rural economies.

Even when urban policies are being drawn up the impact on the surrounding country areas will be considered.

The assurances were given to a conference on the urban and rural white papers organised by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and held in Newcastle on Friday of last week.

Miss Hilary Armstrong, minister for local government and the regions, who was due to give the key note speech sent her apologies and attended a funeral.

But her speech was read to the 200-strong audience by Mr Bob Dobbie, regional director for the North-East government office based in Newcastle.

It stressed that an integrated approach to urban and rural areas was essential.

Some people wanted to drive a wedge between town and country but the government recognised that urban and rural areas were interdependent.

Policies that promoted development on brownfield sites not only benefited urban areas but eased the pressure on greenfield sites - thus securing the future of the countryside.

"Our aim is to deliver an improved quality of life for everyone whether they live in the countryside or in cities and towns," said Mr Dobbie.

The government believed in a "living, working, protected and vibrant countryside" with thriving rural communities and a countryside that everyone could enjoy.

"It means a countryside that is listened to by government at all levels, and a countryside that can shape its own future. That is our vision," he added.

The rural white paper had several aims: the availability of modern services and new technology in the countryside; affordable new housing for locals and those on low incomes; support for farmers and rural businesses to exploit new opportunities.

The investment of more than £100m in market towns was part of the strategy as was a bigger role for local communities and parishes. There should also be stronger protection for wildlife and access to the countryside for all.

Government would be more attuned to rural issues. "We will make sure that when they are drawn up, all major government policies are assessed for their impact on rural people," said Mr Dobbie.

The North-East was an area of great contrasts.

The death of old industries had been followed by huge government investment which had created thousands of new jobs, yet it was still the poorest region in the UK in terms of gross domestic product per head and had 18 of the 100 most deprived wards in England.

Unemployment was above the national average and educational attainment was the worst in the UK; business birth rates were low and failure rates high.

Yet it has areas of superb natural environment, significant reclamation of derelict land and a vibrant culture and range of leisure opportunities.

Mr Dobbie highlighted Newcastle as a prime example of what a co-ordinated regeneration strategy could achieve.

Within 30 minutes of the city centre there was some of the wildest and most unspoilt places in England.

"And yet, within the same half hour journey we will find areas of urban and rural deprivation and disadvantage where, despite our best efforts and spending substantial sums of money, we do not appear to have moved forward," he said .

In the North-East urban and rural areas sat side by side, often in the same local authority boundary.

"They are interdependent and cannot avoid being so. What is done or not done in one area will affect the other."

Mr Dobbie said the white papers provided a 'tool kit' to tackle problems in urban and rural areas.

"They are a major step forward, but are just the start of a challenging process of implementation. This needs everyone, from neighbourhood to national levels, to be fully engaged."

l Letters to the Editor: page 20.