Dr Elizabeth Lawson was recently a member of the panel at the Rural Economy Research Group (RERG) ‘Water Security’ Spring reception in the House of Lords, which was chaired by Baroness McIntosh.

The RERG provides a forum for Parliamentarians, academics, businesses and interested parties to discuss and champion issues of importance to the rural economy and suggest solutions to policy makers.

Elizabeth spoke on the need for investment in water infrastructure for rural communities. Other topics covered included managing wastewater and protecting ecosystems in the UK, challenges in managing flooding and maintaining water quality, and soil health and its role in rural water management. Discussion from the day will be compiled by the secretariat and published in a report.