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Last week we submitted the first of our regular reports to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the rural impacts of the recession. Our briefing helps inform his contribution to the National Economic Council, which meets weekly to consider impacts of the recession and recovery measures.

Our report describes the impacts of the credit crunch on rural labour markets, businesses and housing, as reported in your submissions, in statistical releases and in rural and business media.

Read our first report on 'Recession Impacts on the Economies and Communities of Rural England'

Future reports will put the spotlight on each of these areas in rotation, starting with housing-related impacts in December.  Recent submissions and coverage so far have highlighted:

• sales and repossessions
  
• mortgage lending
  
• access to low cost and affordable housing
  
• investment and management challenges facing housing associations and local authorities

We thank all the organisations and authorities that have provided information, evidence and advice so far. Please keep your contributions coming, whatever the topic.  Your submissions and evidence are central to helping Ministers and decision makers hear the rural voice.

Find out how you can contribute to our reports

We'd also like to hear how recession impacts are affecting older people living or working in rural areas. We also welcome information and views on local level responses to the recession from public sector bodies, social and private sector organisations.

The Pre-Budget Report appears to offer some measures to tackle some of the issues reported in our earlier reports. We're working with Ernst & Young and business organisations to consider how beneficial these proposals could be for rural businesses and labour markets.

Find out more about our work on the impacts of the credit crunch and recession