Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife has welcomed a report from an independent Rural Commission that was set up by the Scottish Conservatives. The Commission was set up over a year ago to look into all aspects of rural life, and how the Scottish Government could do more to improve access to housing, services and employment opportunities. Amongst the policy recommendations in the report are calls for more investment for rural broadband, calls to consider introducing coastal and marine National Parks and the need to further support rural tourism. The party will now consider the details of the report which will help inform future manifestos. Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife said: “This report is good news for rural communities across Mid Scotland & Fife and shows that the Scottish Conservatives are looking to do more to support rural communities. With around one in five people in Scotland living in rural areas, it is vital that the Scottish Government work to ensure that we do not lose out in comparison with more urban areas. “When it comes to important issues such as access to broadband areas such as ours often lose out, and I am delighted that the report has looked into ways that this situation can improve. Along with suggestions to improve tourism in the region, and create coastal National Parks, this report has suggestions that could really benefit Scotland’s rural communities. “It will undoubtedly help to create a discussion about what more the Scottish Government could be doing to help rural Scotland, and as such should result in us getting a better deal from Holyrood.” Liz Smith added: “Whilst not all of these recommendations will be adopted as party policy, they will help to shape future manifestos and ensure that the Scottish Conservatives are fighting to meet the needs of those in rural communities. We need to ensure that our rural communities continue to prosper for decades to come and this report has many ideas that could help achieve this.”