Defra has pledged to put rural communities “at the centre of decision-making” in its Future of Rural England report, published on 16 July, which commits every government department to consider the countryside’s needs when policy is designed. What does the Future of Rural England report say? Commitments include a cross-government board to review how well departments are rural proofing policy, new rural metrics to measure progress, and rural affairs written into the devolution framework as a statutory area of competence for new mayoral authorities. CLA deputy president Joe Evans said: “The CLA welcomes today’s Future of Rural England report and its focus on embedding rural proofing across government. Defra says rural proofing will be reported on annually, with the cross-government board and new rural metrics to be established.