Event report: Rural Futures Conference

The Consumer Futures Unit (CFU) of Citizens Advice Scotland held a 'Rural Futures' conference on 1 February 2017.

The event took place in Edinburgh. A keynote speech was delivered by the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity Fergus Ewing, in which he addressed the main conference themes of fuel poverty, water supply and postal services in rural parts of Scotland.

In a follow up Q&A, delegates posed questions on a variety of subjects including wind farms and digital connectivity.

Barbara Barbarito, Business Strategy and Policy Manager of Scottish Water gave a presentation on 'Food for Thought: Four Plausible Future Scenarios for the Next 30 Years'. 

Participants took part in breakout sessions on rural consumer issues in energy, post and water. And there was a Rural Question Time with audience members putting their questions to a panel including:

• Di Alexander (Chair of the Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force)
• Emma Cooper (National Coordinator, Scottish Rural Action)
• Sue Petch (the Drinking Water Quality Regulator)
• Jonathan Ruff (Regulatory Affairs Manager, Ofcom Scotland)
• Lewis Shand–Smith (The Ombudsman)

You can find out more about some of the issues discussed at the event in the briefing papers below:

• CFU Briefing on Rural Fuel Poverty
• CFU Briefing on Postal Issues in Rural Areas