Cost of living in Devon and Cornwall is among highest in country
The cost of living in the South West is among the highest in the country, new figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown.
The figures indicate costs are particularly high in the rural parts of the South West, due in large part to higher transport costs.
The six-county wide region boasts weekly household expenditure of £479.90, the fourth highest of nine English regions. Only South East families spend more on transport.
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St Ives Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George, who has served on Parliament's Environment Select Committee and was the Shadow Rural Affairs Secretary, said: "The figures are no surprise.
"And it is a double-whammy for places like Cornwall where incomes are lower than in urban areas. Countryside salaries are very different from a stockbroker's salary.
"We do not want to get to a situation where the countryside is a place that is the exclusive preserve of the better-off and we need to make sure there is help in place to defend rural dwellers."
As well as extending the islands-only fuel rebate, Mr George said bus fares should be subsidised for young people in rural areas.
In rural areas, families spent more than their urban counterparts across ten out of 12 indicators, including food and drink, cigarettes and alcohol and recreation and culture.
Only on domestic fuel and power and clothing did urban dwellers spend more, according to figures over a three-year period.
Motorists on the Isles of Scilly and islands off Scotland have in theory been enjoying the 5p-per-litre rebate since March 1, after the UK government received a go-ahead from Brussels last year.
But MPs across the region also want a discount scheme for the more isolated mainland areas, where fuel prices are typically higher than cities and major towns.
The Western Morning News reported last year officials were playing down the prospect of an islands-only fuel rebate scheme being rolled out to the mainland. The reluctance to commit to extending the relief stems from the hurdles ministers would face to get it through.
An islands-only cut, which works through fuel retailers having to pass on full saving of the rebate on petrol and diesel to customers, has operated in Greece and Portugal.
Treasury officials say, though, there is no precedent for a mainland state-funded discount, meaning EU law would have to be changed.
Anne McIntosh MP, chairman of the Environment Select Committee, said: "I will redouble my efforts to have the rural fuel pilot extended to limited areas."
Our weekly spend is now £483.60:
Families’ weekly spending rose to around £483.60 a week last year – an increase of £10 a week on the typical levels recorded in 2010, official figures showed today.
Spending increased for the second year in a row and the 2011 average expenditure is the highest recorded by the Office for National Statistics (ONS)’s annual Family Spending report series.
The biggest costs were taken up by transport, which rose to £65.70 per week, up 80p from the previous year.
Recreation and culture took up the next highest chunk of families’ spending, costing £63.90 a week on average.
This included a £2-a-week increase on spending on recreational services taking the cost to £19.80.
The cost of audio-visual equipment edged down slightly to £6.30, representing a decrease of 90p a week compared with 2010.
Comments
by Phil_lip
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 11:10PM
“While this is going on for us, Walmart, Vodafone, Costa Coffee and over 400 other international companies that trade in the UK are not paying any tax (then you have all the UK companies, MP's and councillors, so called celebrities and sportsman/women doing the same), so we are the ones who have to tighten our belts and be told by Tories that it is the way it has to be, even the Tory sat at home who believes all the twaddle that pours out of the mouths of those in Government sit in front of their computers and lecture us all on cuts that have to be made because we cannot afford it, time some people woke up and started asking questions of their party before things get worse, a lot worse.”
by josdave
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 7:41PM
“I would like to have £480 a week gross let alone money to spend.”
by olddogbreath
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 7:29PM
“I find it somewhat ironic, that we elect MP's who serve one term in Parliament and get a full pension (ie after just 4 years) and yet the rest of us have to work forever to get a pittance. MP's can claim their cost of living on expenses and yet will do little to alleviate the stress of those in this part of the country eg raise a motion in Parliament about the high water rates and charges.”
by Monkeyman
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 5:45PM
“Thanks for letting me know, I hadn't noticed.”
by baldwinpw
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 5:27PM
“I would like to have £483.60 a week to spend.”
by cassiebiker
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 5:11PM
“UK gives £19million aid to South Africa - its president spends £17.5million on his palace
The same as what it cost to upgrade Gdynia Way over a two year period.
If your blood pressure is already at danger levels, don't click on the link below.
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Anybody got any good news?”
by trudie2010
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 3:58PM
“So nothing has changed in the last 30 odd years, I suppose that could loosely be called News!”
by Plukie2
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 2:51PM
“There is no need to tell us, we know! It's the Government that need to be told, those that don't know the price of a loaf of bread, or who don't have to worry about how much their water/electric and gas costs. I can't for the life of me understand why we have to pay for water which is a necessity of life. It should be free for all, we are surrounded by water and surely in this day and age it would be possible to filter and make the water around us fit for drinking.”
by josdave
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 2:07PM
“Tell that to the government and then ask them to justify us having to pay the highest water bills in the country. Take all the utilities out of the hands of (mostly) private owners and renationalise them.”