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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

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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
3 Conclusion First Report - Cost of living: impact o… Acknowledged

Blanket energy support failed to 'rural-proof' for Scottish households, disadvantaging off-grid users.

The unprecedented package of financial support delivered to households across Great Britain by the UK Government last winter was welcome and helped to mitigate the full impact of the dramatic energy price increases experienced during the period. However, the Committee heard that the blanket level of energy support provided was … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the Committee's observations regarding the previous winter's energy support not being sufficiently 'rural-proofed'. It explains that schemes prioritised speed over tailoring and highlights existing support for off-grid households through the Alternative Fuel Payment, alongside other cost-of-living measures.
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Scotland Office
6 Conclusion First Report - Cost of living: impact o… Acknowledged

Mandate the Scottish Government to address concerns regarding food insecurity and poverty.

We hope to hear from the Scottish Government on how they will respond and address these concerns. (Paragraph 38) Food insecurity and food poverty

Government response AI summary
The UK Government notes the recommendation and recognises the importance of rural communities, but does not commit to any specific actions or provide a timeline for addressing food insecurity and food poverty concerns itself.
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Scotland Office
7 Conclusion First Report - Cost of living: impact o… Acknowledged

Severe hardship and increased food bank reliance evident in remote rural Scottish communities.

We are deeply concerned by the real hardship being experienced across many rural communities in Scotland, such as parents having to skip meals in order feed their children. Food banks provide a vital service in remote rural Scotland. There has been a significant increase in demand for their services with … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government notes the committee's concern and recognises the importance of rural communities, but provides no specific actions to address the hardship or increased demand for food banks.
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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