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Publication - Research and analysis

Scottish islands: data overview 2023

Published
5 December 2023
From
Director-General Net Zero
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Part of
Arts, culture and sport, Business, industry and innovation, Children and families, +12 more … Communities and third sector, Cost of living crisis, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment and climate change, Farming and rural, Health and social care, Housing, Marine and fisheries, Transport, Work and skills
ISBN
9781835217214

This report gives a snapshot of Scotland's island-level data as collated in the new Scottish Islands Data Dashboard and draws out key findings relating to each of the strategic objective topic areas set out in the National Islands Plan.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

5 Transport

Transport costs are significantly higher for Scottish island residents when compared to urban UK transport costs. The majority of island residents do not think that transport fares are good value for money.

Transport costs are significantly higher for Scottish island residents when compared to urban UK transport costs. Recognising this, Scottish Government provide concessionary ferry vouchers to those who are eligible to help them take journeys to the mainland. For those eligible for the national concessionary travel bus scheme and for ferry vouchers, vouchers are given for four single (or two return) free ferry trips to the Scottish mainland.

% Difference between urban UK and Island weekly travel costs in different Minimum income standard budget
Graph showing the % difference between urban UK and Island weekly travel costs in different Minimum Income Standard Budgets.

Source: The cost of remoteness - reflecting higher living costs in remote rural Scotland when measuring fuel poverty: research report, Scottish Government (2021)

Island residents generally do not believe that transport fares are good value for money. For example, only 19% of island residents thought that flights to and from the mainland were good value for money. Islanders were also dissatisfied with the cost and reliability of inter-island air services.

Contact

Email: socialresearch@gov.scot

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