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Select Committee · Scottish Affairs Committee

Cost of living: impact on rural communities in Scotland

Status: Closed Opened: 16 Dec 2022 Closed: 25 Apr 2024 4 recommendations 8 conclusions 1 report

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 whether this could be better … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Cost of living: impact on rural communities … HC 153 24 Jan 2024 12 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
1 Conclusion First Report - Cost of living: impact o… Accepted

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 experience. Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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Scotland Office
4 Conclusion First Report - Cost of living: impact o… Accepted

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 households are therefore facing more barriers to accessing home energy … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 …
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Scotland Office
8 Conclusion First Report - Cost of living: impact o… Accepted

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 food, but there is often insufficient income to pay for … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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Scotland Office

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
11 Sep 2023 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 View ↗
3 Jul 2023 Dr Andy Cope · Sustrans Scotland, Ranald Robertson · HITRANS (Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership), Uisdean Robertson · Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) View ↗
19 Jun 2023 Cara Hilton · The Trussell Trust, John Dickie · Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, Professor Mary Brennan · University of Edinburgh Business School View ↗
27 Feb 2023 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 View ↗

Who gave evidence

18 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Amanda Solloway · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister … Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1
Ben Pledger · Deputy Director, Energy Affordability, Strategy, … Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1
Cara Hilton · Senior Policy & Public Affairs Manager (Scotland) The Trussell Trust 1
Chris Birt · Associate Director Scotland Joseph Rowntree Foundation 1
Dr Andy Cope · Director of Evidence and Insight Sustrans Scotland 1
Frazer Scott · Chief Executive Officer Energy Action Scotland 1
Gavin James · Deputy Director – Scotland, Wales and Northern Ir… Department for Transport 1
Heather Williams · Training Lead Scottish Women's Budget Group 1
John Dickie · Director Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland 1
John Lamont MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland 1
Kris Krasnowski · Deputy Director, Policy Delivery and Relationship… Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland 1
Mr Richard Holden · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Roads and… Department for Transport 1
Professor David Bell CBE · Emeritus Professor of Economics Royal Society of Edinburgh 1
Professor Hugo van Woerden · Visiting Professor University of the Highlands and Islands 1
Professor Mary Brennan · Chair of Food Marketing and Society University of Edinburgh Business School 1
Ranald Robertson · Partnership Director HITRANS (Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership) 1
Ruth Boyle · Policy and Campaigns Manager Poverty Alliance 1
Uisdean Robertson · Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Co… Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) 1

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
21 Nov 2023 To cttee Letter from Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Refor…
14 Nov 2023 — Correspondence with Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, La…
24 Oct 2023 To cttee Letter from Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform…
17 Oct 2023 To cttee Letter from Amanda Solloway MP, Minister for Energy Consumers & Affordability …
11 Sep 2023 — Correspondence with Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Lan…

Meetings & visits

1 item
DateTypeDetail
16 Jan 2024 Formal meeting (private meeting) — · Room 8, Palace of Westminster