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Services and Lifestyle
Access and Convenience of Services
Figure 5: Percentage Within 15 Minute Drive Time of Service by Geographic Area, 2006
Source: Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, 2006
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Figure 5 shows that, in general, people in rural areas are less likely to live within a 15 minute drive to key services, than are those in the rest of Scotland. This is particularly true for people in remote rural areas, of whom only 53% live within a 15 minute drive of shopping facilities, compared to 87% in accessible rural areas and only 86% live within a 15 minute drive of a GP, compared to 99% in accessible rural areas. The only service for which everyone had a drive of less than 15 minutes, regardless of area, is the Post Office.
Figure 6: Percentage Within 15 Minute Drive Time by Public Transport of Service, by Geographic Area, 2006
Source: Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, 2006
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification 2005-2006)
Figure 6 shows that a lower percentage of people living in rural areas than those in the rest of Scotland are within a 15 minute drive by public transport of key services. For those in remote rural areas the percentage is particularly low, with only 38% within 15 minutes of a GP by public transport and 20% of shopping facilities. In all the geographic areas, some places are not within 15 minutes by public transport of the key services listed.
Figure 7: Percentage Finding Services Very or Fairly Convenient by Geographic Area, 2007
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007)
Figure 7 shows that, in general, a lower percentage of people in rural areas find that services are convenient. This is particularly so for accessible rural areas. However, there are services such as the Post Office, the doctor's surgery and petrol stations, which those in remote rural areas find more convenient than do those living in accessible rural or the rest of Scotland.
Figure 8: Households with Home Internet Access and Broadband Connection by Geographic Area, 2007
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)
Figure 8 shows that households in rural Scotland are more likely to have home internet access than those in the rest of Scotland. However, those who do have internet access in rural areas are less likely to have a broadband connection than in the rest of Scotland.
Table 13: Households Recycling Items in the Past Month by Geographic Area, 2007
| Remote
Rural | Accessible
Rural | Rest of
Scotland |
|---|
Glass bottles and jars | 77% | 80% | 65% |
|---|
Plastic bottles | 47% | 65% | 58% |
|---|
Metal cans | 56% | 69% | 58% |
|---|
Newspaper/magazine/paper/cardboard | 78% | 89% | 81% |
|---|
One or more of these items | 86% | 93% | 83% |
|---|
None of these | 14% | 7% | 17% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
Columns add to more than 100% since multiple responses were allowed
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)
Table 13 shows households in accessible rural areas, are more likely to recycle than those in remote rural areas and those in the rest of Scotland. Households in remote rural areas are less likely to recycle plastic or newspaper/magazine/paper/cardboard but are more likely to recycle glass bottles than households in the rest of Scotland.
Travel Patterns
Table 14: Cars Normally Available for Private Use by Geographic Area, 2007
| Remote
Rural | Accessible
Rural | Rest of
Scotland |
|---|
None | 13% | 12% | 34% |
|---|
One | 49% | 43% | 45% |
|---|
Two | 33% | 36% | 18% |
|---|
Three or more | 6% | 8% | 3% |
|---|
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Household Survey 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)
Table 14 shows that in rural areas a higher proportion of households have access to one or more cars than do those in the rest of Scotland.
Table 15: How Adults Usually Travel to Work/Education by Geographic Area, 2007
| Remote
Rural | Accessible
Rural | Rest of
Scotland |
|---|
Walking | 13% | 4% | 15% |
|---|
Driver car/van | 65% | 75% | 56% |
|---|
Passenger car/van | 6% | 6% | 6% |
|---|
Bicycle | 2% | 2% | 1% |
|---|
Bus (ordinary, school or works) | 8% | 8% | 15% |
|---|
Rail | 3% | 2% | 4% |
|---|
Other | 4% | 3% | 2% |
|---|
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Household Survey 2007
(Adults in work or education, excluding those who work from home)
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)
Table 15 shows that people in rural areas are more likely to drive to work/education than are people in the rest of Scotland. The table also shows that people in the rest of Scotland are more likely to walk or take public transport to work/education than are those in rural areas.
Table 16: How School Children Normally Travel to School by Geographic Area, 2007
| Remote
Rural | Accessible
Rural | Rest of
Scotland |
|---|
Walking | 31% | 33% | 58% |
|---|
Driver/passenger car/van | 18% | 27% | 21% |
|---|
Bicycle | 1% | 0% | 1% |
|---|
Bus (ordinary or school) | 50% | 36% | 17% |
|---|
Rail | 0% | 0% | 1% |
|---|
Other | 1% | 4% | 2% |
|---|
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)
Table 16 shows that children in rural areas are more likely to travel to school by bus than by any other mode of transport, whereas children in the rest of Scotland are more likely to walk.
Figure 9: Percentage of Workers Living and Working in Area by Geographic Area, 2001
Source: General Register Office for Scotland, 2001 Census
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2003-2004)
Figure 9 gives an indication of the relationship between where people live and where they work. For those living in remote rural areas, the majority also work in remote rural areas (68%). For those living in accessible rural areas, 46% work in accessible rural areas, but 52% commute to work in the rest of Scotland. Of those living in the rest of Scotland, 9% work in rural areas. The number of people from rural areas who work in the rest of Scotland is just over 190,000 compared to approximately 160,000 who live in the rest of Scotland and work in rural areas.
Figure 10: Total Expenditure on Fuel for Cars per Month by Geographic Area, 2005/2006
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2005/2006
(This question was not included in the Scottish Household Survey, 2007)
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Figure 10 shows that residents in rural Scotland are more likely than those in the rest of Scotland to spend over £100 per month on fuel for their cars. This is particularly true in accessible rural Scotland with 36% of respondents indicating that they spend over £100 per month on fuel. 30% of respondents in remote rural Scotland spend over £100 a month, with only 23% of respondents in the rest of Scotland indicating that they spent over £100 per month.
Education
Table 17: Highest Qualifications Held by Working Age Population by Geographic Area, 2007
| Remote
Rural | Accessible
Rural | Rest of
Scotland |
|---|
Degree level or equivalent (Above SVQ* Level 4) | 18% | 23% | 20% |
|---|
HNC/ HND or equivalent ( SVQ* Level 4) | 15% | 14% | 13% |
|---|
Higher/A Level or equivalent ( SVQ* Level 3) | 26% | 27% | 27% |
|---|
Credit Standard Grade or equivalent ( SVQ* Level 2) | 20% | 18% | 17% |
|---|
General Standard Grade or equivalent ( SVQ* Level 1) | 3% | 2% | 2% |
|---|
Other | 7% | 5% | 6% |
|---|
No qualifications | 11% | 10% | 14% |
|---|
All | 100% | 100% | 100% |
|---|
Source: Annual Population Survey in Scotland, 2007
*Scottish Vocational Qualification
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008) )
Table 17 shows that a lower percentage of the working age population in rural areas hold no qualifications compared to the rest of Scotland.
Table 18: Average Tariff Score and Percentage Registered for Free School Meals of S4 Pupils by Geographic Area, 2006/2007
| Remote
Rural | Accessible
Rural | Rest of
Scotland |
|---|
Average tariff score | 191 | 183 | 168 |
|---|
Percentage registered for free school meals | 7% | 7% | 15% |
|---|
Number of pupils | 4,235 | 7,653 | 49,405 |
|---|
Note: Not all pupils could be assigned an urban/rural classification due to lack of address details. This table includes 61,293 out of a total of 61,697 pupils.
Source: Scottish Government, SQA Attainment and School Leaver qualifications in Scotland, 2006/2007
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Table 18 shows that pupils in S4 at schools in rural areas achieve higher average tariff scores than do equivalent pupils in the rest of Scotland. Table 18 also shows that the percentage of S4 pupils registered for free school meals is lower in the rural areas.
Table 19: Destination of School Leavers from Public Funded Secondary Schools by Geographic Area, 2006/2007
| Remote
Rural | Accessible
Rural | Rest of
Scotland |
|---|
Higher Education | 34% | 35% | 28% |
|---|
Further Education | 17% | 22% | 24% |
|---|
Training | 2% | 3% | 6% |
|---|
Employment | 37% | 30% | 27% |
|---|
Unemployed and actively seeking employment or training | 6% | 9% | 11% |
|---|
Unemployed and not actively seeking employment or training | 2% | 1% | 1% |
|---|
Not Known | 1% | 1% | 1% |
|---|
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Government, Destination of Leavers from Scottish Schools, 2006/2007
Based on the postcode of the student's school
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Table 19 shows that in rural areas higher percentages of school leavers go into full-time higher education. Remote rural areas have the highest percentage of school leavers going into employment.
Health
Figure 11: Life Expectancy at Birth by Geographic Area, 2004-2006
Source: General Register Office for Scotland, 2008
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Figure 11 shows that in all areas of Scotland, the life expectancy of females is higher than that of males. It can also be seen that the life expectancy of males and females is higher in rural areas than in the rest of Scotland.
For males, the life expectancy in remote rural and accessible rural areas is just under 77 years, over 2 and a half years more than in rest of Scotland. For females, the life expectancy in rural areas is just under 81 years, 1 and a half years more than in the rest of Scotland.
Table 20: Rate of Hospital Admissions (Emergency and Cancer) (2006) and % of Population Prescribed Drugs for Anxiety, Depressions or Psychosis (2004)
| Remote
Rural | Accessible
Rural | Rest of
Scotland |
|---|
Emergency admissions rate per 100,000 population (2006) | 8,588 | 8,191 | 10,040 |
|---|
Cancer admissions rate per 100,000 population (2006) | 2,722 | 2,536 | 2,684 |
|---|
% of population prescribed drugs for anxiety, depression or psychosis (2004) | 7% | 7% | 8% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics, 2008 (based on data zones)
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006 and the Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification 2003-2004 for the respective years)
Table 20 shows that in the rest of Scotland the rate of emergency admissions is higher than in either remote rural or accessible rural areas.
The rates for cancer admissions are very similar in all three areas.
The proportions prescribed drugs for anxiety, depressions or psychosis are similar across geographic areas.
Table 21: Whether Respondent Smokes by Geographic Area, 2007
| Remote
Rural | Accessible
Rural | Rest of
Scotland |
|---|
Yes | 16% | 20% | 26% |
|---|
No | 84% | 80% | 74% |
|---|
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
|---|
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)
Table 21 shows that a higher percentage of people in the rest of Scotland smoke, compared to people in rural areas. Overall, remote rural areas have the lowest proportion of people who smoke.
Housing
Figure 12: Property Type by Geographic Area, 2007
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)
Figure 12 shows that the properties in rural Scotland tend to be a house or a bungalow unlike the rest of Scotland where flats are more common.
Table 22: House Sales (Average Prices and Total Number) by Geographic Area, 2007
| Remote
Rural | Accessible
Rural | Rest of
Scotland |
|---|
Total number of house sales | 8,283 | 18,518 | 144,283 |
|---|
Average Price | £175,720 | £189,131 | £144,805 |
|---|
Median Price | £137,000 | £155,950 | £113,113 |
|---|
Source: Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics 2008 (based on data zones)
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)
Table 22 shows total house sales by geographic area and the average and median house prices for those sales. The vast majority of house sales are in rest of Scotland, but average house prices are lowest in this area. The highest average price is in accessible rural areas, over £13,000 higher than in remote rural areas and over £44,000 higher than in rest of Scotland.
It is important to note that these prices are based only on prices for properties sold and not values of all properties in the area. The prices will also depend on property type and size (see Figure 12 on previous page for an indication of property types by geographic area) which is not adjusted for.
Figure 13: Housing Tenure by Geographic Area, 2007
Source: Scottish Household Survey, 2007
These figures have been revised since the publication of the report on the 2007 SHS
(Based on Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 2007-2008)
Figure 13 shows that in rural Scotland more people own their homes, either outright or with the help of a loan/mortgage, than in the rest of Scotland. Renting housing from Local Authorities/Scottish Homes or housing associations/Co-operatives is less common in rural Scotland relative to the rest of Scotland.
Table 23: Use of Housing Stock by Geographic Area, 2001
| Occupied
Household
Space | Unoccupied
Household
Space | Unoccupied space
Second Residence/
Holiday
Accommodation | Unoccupied space
Vacant
Household
Space |
|---|
Remote Rural | 84% | 16% | 11% | 5% |
|---|
Accessible Rural | 94% | 6% | 2% | 4% |
|---|
Rest of Scotland | 96% | 4% | 0% | 4% |
|---|
Source: General Register Office for Scotland, Census 2001
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2003-2004)
Table 23 shows the percentage of the housing stock that is occupied and unoccupied by geographic area. Remote rural areas have the lowest percentage of occupied household space with 84% occupied. Of the 16% of space/properties in remote rural areas that are unoccupied, 11% is unoccupied as a result of second residence/holiday accommodation and 5% is vacant. There are much lower percentages of unoccupied household space in accessible rural areas and the rest of Scotland, but that which is unoccupied tends to be vacant.
Figure 14: Energy Efficiency Rating by Geographic Area, 2005/2006
Source: Scottish House Condition Survey, 2005/2006
(Based on Scottish Executive Urban Rural Classification, 2005-2006)
Energy efficiency of dwellings can be measured using the National Home Energy Rating ( NHER). This procedure is based on a model (produced by the National Energy Services) of the theoretical costs of maintaining a standard heating regime for a standard level of occupancy derived from knowledge of the appliances, fuel sources, insulation, size and dwelling type of the premises. The model contains a factor for local climate variations to take into account differences across the UK.
Figure 14 shows that housing stock in rural Scotland is generally much less energy efficient than those in the rest of Scotland. In remote rural areas, 5% of households were classified as having a good energy efficiency rating compared to 52% in the rest of Scotland. Dwellings in remote rural areas are more likely to have poor energy efficiency with 21% of households being classed as having poor energy efficiency in remote rural areas compared to 2% of households in the rest of Scotland.
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