Rural Scotland People, Prosperity and Partnership

---

Service Provision

Rural Framework highlighted the need for more effective service delivery. Against the trend towards centralisation of services, there is a role for more imaginative ways of service delivery, for example sharing premises and mobile services. As part of the continuing work following from Rural Framework, The Scottish Office has commissioned a survey of rural services including education, childcare, health and social services, shops, post offices, meeting places and transport. Preliminary conclusions from the report, which will be published later in the year, are:

• the vast majority of settlements have at least one food shop;

• most settlements have at least one non-food shop, such as a newsagent or gift shop;

• tourism has an important effect on shopping; one-third of settlements with a population less than 500 have a gift shop and 40% had a cafe or restaurant;

• child care facilities are confined to playgroups or mother and toddler groups but are available in 88% of communities. Only 30% have a local authority nursery and 12% a private establishment;

• play areas for children are available in the majority of settlements;

• village halls exist in three-quarters of all rural settlements and 80% have use of the village school.

Local Authority Action on Services