Opening the meeting, Viktor Zubkov said, in part:

"The main issue today has to do with the results of last year's implementation of the Federal Targeted Programme, Social Development of Rural Areas until 2013. We will discuss separately the parametres of the implementation of this programme this year and the next. I propose giving particular attention to issues of improving living conditions in rural areas, including those of young families and specialists.

I want to remind you that the strategic guidelines and tasks for improving the quality of life in rural areas are included in the Concept of Sustainable Development of Rural Territories until 2020. The mechanism of its implementation exists in the form of the Federal Targeted Programme, Social Development of Rural Areas until 2013, which is part of the State Programme of Agricultural Sector Development.

Funding of this programme comes from the federal and regional budgets, as well as extra-budgetary sources. As a result, total funds spent on the social development in rural areas exceeded 275.3 billion roubles over an eight year period, between 2003 and 2011. If you include the planned funds for this year and the next, this amount totals 328 billion.

In the course of the implementation of this programme, 15.5 million square metres of housing were built, including 4.4 million for young families and specialists, as well as almost 55,000 kilometres of gas distribution networks. Also, 443 medical and obstetrics stations were built, along with secondary schools for almost 94,800 pupils.

There have been good results in regions that have traditionally been intensively supporting the rural social sector. Among these are the Republic of Tatarstan, and the Leningrad, Ryazan, Orenburg, Tyumen and Sverdlovsk regions.

On the whole, the results of the 2011 programme merit a positive assessment.

The efficiency of attracting funds for co-financing the elements of the federal targeted programme amounted to 3.4 roubles per one rouble from the federal budget. Indicators were substantially exceeded in the commissioning of housing, which was surpassed by 37%, including that for young families, by 19%, for commissioning of gas distribution networks, by 54%, and water supply networks, by 15%. We can see higher indicators in the development of the social infrastructure – 94 medical and obstetrics stations were opened, as well as secondary schools for 4,800 pupils.

Improvement of the land law will contribute to the development of utilities and the social infrastructure.

On July 1, 2011, the amendments to the Law "On Farm Land Turnover" proposed by the government went into effect. Now large families are entitled to the acquisition of land plots for free. The law established the mechanism of withdrawal for land that is not used or is used for purposes other than its designated purpose, and for the turnover of such land plots to an effective proprietor. The law provides for compensation in the amount of 50% of farmers' expenses for registration of the used land (1.4 billion roubles in 2012).

A few words on the 2012 results of the improvement of living conditions in rural areas. Around1.3 million square metres of housing were built or purchased, and housing conditions were improved for 15,500 families. Half of these are young families (606,900 square metres). A priority is to help young highly qualified personnel obtain homes and work in rural areas.

The law provides for an option to use maternity capital to finance the construction of housing in rural areas. The regions were given the right to set an average market price of 1 square metre of housing on a case-by-case basis according to the village and location. This makes it possible to constrain housing prices in rural areas.

Starting this year, to improve their housing conditions young specialists can use additional sources of financing: one-off payments to rural doctors (1 million roubles) and to first-time farmers (1.5 million roubles).

The main task for 2012-2013 is to maintain the positive dynamics of the indicators of social development in rural areas. The planned 53 billion rouble funding of the programme for these years will make it possible to accomplish this task."