Rory Stewart has commented on the Chancellor’s announcement in yesterday’s Spending Review, that police will be protected from any cutbacks. ​”​I am absolutely delighted with th​e ​result. I hope people understand how much work has gone into this debate. I’m delighted that I and John Stevenson were able to play a role in making Cumbria’s case on the spending formula. And were able with colleagues to make the case for National Security in a difficult era. Cumbria ​Constabulary continues to face many challenges, operating in the most sparsely populated areas of England, with a testing geography. But I’m delighted that we were able – as I hoped – to make a clear case and provide some security in the future.​As the Chancellor said, “The police protect us; we need to protect the police​.””

Rory Stewart MP has praised the Chancellor’s commitment to Cumbria in ​yesterday’s historic Spending Review and Autumn Statement, and in particular its commitments on Cumbria’s Police, its Natural Environment, and National Defence and Security. It is a budget in which the government has yet again delivered on its promises to the British people to protect economic and national security. Public spending plans set out in the Review mean that Britain will reach a surplus of £10.1bn in 2019/20 – higher than forecast in previous Budgets, and meaning that the country will be out of the red and into the black.

In an increasingly dangerous and unstable world, Rory also welcomed the continued commitment of 2% on national defence spending​ ​following his own lobbying of government of this when he was Chair of the Defence Select Committee in 2014-15.

Speaking outside the chamber after ​yesterday’s announcement​s​, Rory Stewart said: “This is a historic Spending Review because we are at last able to show Britain headed for a surplus, which means that we can focus on strengthening our vital services, investing in people and infrastructure, and protecting the most vulnerable​ ​through our welfare reforms​. ​Once again the Chancellor has shown his commitment to Cumbria and Cumbrians. In recognising our ageing demographic and the needs of an elderly, but more active, population, he has announced the biggest real terms rise in the basic State Pension as well as investment into social care funding. For our younger constituents, the biggest house-building programme of any government since the ‘70s will be introduced, ensuring that young people have access to housing and setting a target of 400,000 new affordable homes by the end of the decade. Cumbrian families will be supported by the largest-ever investment into free childcare, helping all the many stay-at-home mothers who will be supported back into work by supporting them – from 2017 – with free childcare for 30 hours per week for three and four-year-olds.​ ​As a Defra Minister I was particularly pleased to hear, too, that our landscapes will continue to be protected, with spending on our National Parks and forests maintained.“

Prior to the Spending Review Rory had emphasised to Ministerial colleagues the need for protecting FE spending on behalf of Cumbria’s colleges, on the need to reassess the schools Funding Formula, for the extension of the Small Business Rate Relief scheme for SMEs, and on the need to extend Enterprise Zones up to Carlisle and the northern part of Cumbria. On all counts, Cumbria has seen wins.​ ​Rory continued: “Protecting small Cumbrian businesses, recognising the potential for Carlisle as an Enterprise Zone, and making sure that our wonderful further education colleges are supported, all means a stronger, brighter, safer future for all generations of​ ​Cumbria​ns.”

Environment Minister, Rory Stewart, has welcomed plans to enhance the UK’s natural landscapes through closer ties between the National Association of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NAAONB) and National Parks England (NPE) at a conference today to celebrate the most beautiful parts of our country.

The signing of an accord between the two organisations will see them work together to raise awareness of the value of our world class Protected Landscapes and the benefits for public health. By creating closer ties the organisations can also share their local knowledge, marketing and conservation expertise, potentially giving a further boost to the £11 billion already generated from rural tourism each year.

Commenting on the importance of developing economic opportunities for rural communities through the conservation of our heritage and natural landscapes, Environment Minister Rory Stewart said:

“Our Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks are vital to rural life. They protect and care for some of our most cherished landscapes. I am delighted that these two organisations will now be working even more closely together.

“It’s vital we protect the distinctive character and natural beauty of our stunning landscapes, from the evocative heathland of the Somerset Quantocks to the patchwork pastures of the Howardian Hills in North Yorkshire, so they can continue to be treasured by future generations.

“I congratulate our AONBs and National Parks for coming together to combine their efforts to keep our connection with the character of our natural landscapes as rich and rewarding as it always has been.”

National Parks and specific AONBs take in a huge variety of landscapes from mountain tops to coastal estuaries, with their managing bodies working to protect their innate beauty, and deliver economic benefits for their local rural communities.

There are 46 AONBs in the UK, covering 18% of our countryside. Our 15 National Parks cover over 36% of England, Wales and Scotland, generating over £4bn every year and bringing 90 million visitors to enjoy our countryside each year. Both of these spaces play a vital role in connecting people with nature for our health and wellbeing. This is a key priority for the government as set out in its vision for an Open Environment which puts inspiring and improving our children’s understanding of nature at the forefront of our work to promote the countryside.

The conference to promote these protected spaces also comes just weeks after the Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss announced that an additional 188 square miles of land across Cumbria and Lancashire will be protected, following the decision to extend two of England’s most iconic National Parks the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District.