Cost of living: impact on rural communities in Scotland

Scottish Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 16 Dec 2022 Closed: 25 Apr 2024 Parliament page
The Committee has launched an inquiry to explore the impact of rising costs of living on rural populations across Scotland. We'll also be looking at to what extent support packages provided by the UK Government meet the needs of Scotland’s rural communities in relation to the cost of living, and … Read more
4 Recommendations
8 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
5 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 16 events
18 Apr
2024
Report published
24 Jan
2024
Report published
16 Jan
2024
Formal meeting (private meeting) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
21 Nov
2023
Correspondence
14 Nov
2023
Correspondence
24 Oct
2023
Correspondence
17 Oct
2023
Correspondence
11 Sep
2023
Oral evidence
11 Sep
2023
Correspondence
11 Sep
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
3 Jul
2023
Oral evidence
3 Jul
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
11 Sep 2023
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Amanda Solloway · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Ben Pledger · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Gavin James · Department for Transport John Lamont MP · Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland Kris Krasnowski · Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland Mr Richard Holden · Department for Transport
3 Jul 2023
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Dr Andy Cope · Sustrans Scotland Ranald Robertson · HITRANS (Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership) Uisdean Robertson · Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council)
19 Jun 2023
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Cara Hilton · The Trussell Trust John Dickie · Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland Professor Mary Brennan · University of Edinburgh Business School
27 Feb 2023
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Chris Birt · Joseph Rowntree Foundation Frazer Scott · Energy Action Scotland Heather Williams · Scottish Women's Budget Group Professor David Bell CBE · Royal Society of Edinburgh Professor Hugo van Woerden · University of the Highlands and Islands Ruth Boyle · Poverty Alliance
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Cost of living: impact on rural communities in Sc… HC 153 24 Jan 2024 12 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Cost of living: imp…
Scotland's diverse rural communities require tailored cost-of-living interventions reflecting varied local experiences.
The term “rural communities” encompasses a broad gradation of populations across Scotland and this results in a varied experience for people living in rural areas. Successful cost of living interventions need to account for and be tailored towards that variable … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the conclusion, recognising the varied experiences of rural communities and the importance of tailored interventions. It highlights its existing engagement with rural groups and cites the £2 bus fare policy as an example of a successful intervention that benefits rural areas.
Scotland Office
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4 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Cost of living: imp…
Rural Scottish households face significant barriers accessing home energy efficiency schemes despite high need.
One way to help reduce energy costs in the long-term is to improve the energy efficiency of homes. The challenge of retrofitting and insulating homes, in terms of cost, time and practicality, are particularly acute for rural areas. Rural Scottish … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the challenges of improving energy efficiency in rural Scottish homes, noting that housing policy is devolved to the Scottish Government. However, it highlights that its UK-wide Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme already includes specific uplifts and provisions for rural, low-income, off-gas grid homes in Scotland.
Scotland Office
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8 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Cost of living: imp…
Food insecurity driven by insufficient income, exacerbated by global events and no agreed definition.
Although there is no agreed definition of food insecurity, it is clear that the difficulties people experience in providing sufficient food for their families are the result of a range of issues affecting household budgets—there is no lack of available … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the conclusion by describing its existing and upcoming welfare spending increases, tax cuts, and cost-of-living payments designed to support household incomes. It also outlines its internationally recognised definition of food security.
Scotland Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 12 of 4 classified
Accepted 3
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 3
Not Addressed 3
Total 4 recs + 8 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
21 Nov 2023 To committee Letter from Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands at Scottish Government on her reasons for declining to give evidence to the Cost of living: impact on rural communities in Scotland inquiry, dated 25 October 2023
Parliament page
14 Nov 2023 Correspondence with Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands at Scottish Government on declining an invitation to appear before the Committee in Edinburgh on 4 December, dated 1 and 9 November 2023
Parliament page
24 Oct 2023 To committee Letter from Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands at the Scottish Government on her non-attendance at the Committee’s session on the Cost of living: impact on rural communities in Scotland on 11 Sept, dated 13 September 2023.
Parliament page
17 Oct 2023 To committee Letter from Amanda Solloway MP, Minister for Energy Consumers & Affordability at Department for Energy Security & Net Zero on follow-up from evidence session on Cost of living: impact on rural communities in Scotland on 11 September, dated 20 September 2023
Parliament page
11 Sep 2023 Correspondence with Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands at Scottish Government on reason for her not being able to appear before the Committee on 11 September, dated 6 September 2023.
Parliament page