Authorities urged to support local firms

Supporting local firms will help "fill the slack" created by what could be severe spending cuts as the next government seeks to repair the public finances, says the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC).

The CRC argues that as the cuts bite and the public sector is forced to shed jobs, organisations could help private companies to prosper if they think about where they place their business.

The Government and other parts of the public sector are coming under increasing pressure to purchase home-grown food.

However, some hospitals and emergency services in Yorkshire still prefer to import as much as half their food from abroad rather than supporting British farmers.

The call from the CRC aims to focus minds about sourcing food, but managers will also be urged to think about other goods that could be sourced locally.

In advice to organisations, the commission urges them to "look for opportunities to help local economies prosper and fill the slack created by less public spending, particularly through increased local purchasing".

Acknowledging the level of speculation about future cuts, the Commission also warns the Government to ensure spending is "demonstrably fair" so rural areas are not unfairly hit.

With many job losses expected to affect middle and top ranking officials, who are mostly based in cities, the CRC says rural areas may not be as badly hit in terms of posts being lost.