Office of Fair Trading Remote Communities Survey

[D.H]

Summary of the proposed work

The OFT has launched a call for evidence on remote communities. The purpose of this is to seek the views of residents in remote communities to improve the OFT's understanding of how remoteness effects both consumers and businesses.

The prices of many goods and services are frequently higher in remote communities and access to key services such as shops, banks and public transport can be limited. Fuel prices, in particular, are a common cause for concern given that distance affects costs of distribution. Online purchasing may expand opportunities for broader choice and quality, but we also recognise that delivery can be problematic or costly. In other circumstances variety of choice may be restricted or the quality of goods compromised.

http://oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/consultations/remote-communities/

[EMDEE]

Maybe I'm just being cynical, but has the OFT only just realised that there are particular economic problems associated with remote communities?