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
View on parliament.uk
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
View on parliament.uk
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
View on parliament.uk
Cara Hilton · The Trussell Trust John Dickie · Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland Professor Mary Brennan · University of Edinburgh Business School
27 Feb 2023
View on parliament.uk
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
2 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - Cost of living: imp…
Carry out review of winter 2022/23 cost-of-living support effectiveness for Scottish rural households.
Whilst accepting the UK Government were keen to get support out to assist people as quickly as possible, the UK Government should carry out a review to assess the effectiveness and value for money of cost-of-living support provided by the … Read more
Government Response
The government details the substantial cost-of-living support package provided and its delivery, including specific scheme data and the overall block grant to Scotland. However, it does not commit to carrying out a formal review to assess the effectiveness and value for money of the support, particularly for Scottish rural households, as recommended.
Scotland Office
View details
9 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - Cost of living: imp…
Agree consistent definition and measurement of food insecurity, addressing high prices in rural Scotland.
By Spring 2024, the UK and Scottish Governments should agree a consistent means of defining food insecurity and food poverty and show how it plans to measure this in the context of remote rural communities in Scotland. In its response … Read more
Government Response
The government details its existing welfare support and its current internationally recognised definition of food security. However, it does not commit to agreeing a consistent definition with the Scottish Government or setting out specific actions for high food prices in remote rural communities.
Scotland Office
View details
10 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - Cost of living: imp…
Collaborate to investigate impact of high food prices and food insecurity in remote rural Scotland.
The UK Government should work with the Scottish Government and local authorities jointly to investigate further the impact of high food prices as well as the scale and nature of food insecurity and food poverty on communities in remote rural … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines its existing welfare support and its definition of food security, but it does not commit to working jointly with the Scottish Government and local authorities to investigate the impact of high food prices and food insecurity specifically in remote rural Scotland, or to collate data as recommended.
Scotland Office
View details
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