The Office of Fair Trading have been in touch asking if we can share this latest info from them with VB readers. In their own words. Ed
The Office of Fair Trading is asking Isle of Wight residents to contribute to a fact-finding study into the challenges facing consumers and businesses in remote communities across the UK.
The UK’s consumer and competition body is calling on the public to send their views and experiences of living in a remote community to help inform its work.
Exploring higher prices in remote communities
The OFT recognises that prices of many goods and services are frequently higher in remote communities, there can be fewer suppliers available, and access to key services such as shops, dentists, chemists, banks and public transport can be limited.
Fuel prices are a common cause for concern for those who need to travel long distances to get to school, to work or to the shops. Whilst shopping online may expand opportunities for broader choice and quality, deliveries to more isolated areas can sometimes be problematic or costly.
The OFT will be seeking to explore these and other issues with communities and businesses in remote areas, with the aim of improving its, and others’, understanding of how consumer or competition law can help tackle them.
Seeing how the OFT can help
The OFT will also look at evidence and experience from across the entire UK and will explore how other countries address specific market issues arising in isolated communities.
Kyla Brand, OFT Director, said, “Geography and population density can have a major impact on the cost and accessibility of goods and services to consumers, and on how businesses operate. We are asking for evidence from Isle of Wight residents to help us get a clearer picture of these issues and understand and explain some of the reasons behind them. We also want to explore what the OFT, or other bodies could do to reduce the downsides, and maximise the benefits of remoteness.”
Have your say
Individuals and businesses wishing to contribute to the study are requested to send their views before 20 April to the OFT Office in Scotland, 23 Walker Street, Edinburgh EH3 7HX, fill in an online form, or email [email protected]
The OFT expects to publish the outcome of this call for evidence by July.
Image: Rambert Media Images under CC BY 2.0
