Spotlight on: The economy
At a time when Scotland's people are in great need of high quality, free advice and information, the Scottish CAB Service is far from immune to the impact of cuts in government spending and reductions in the funds available from trusts, foundations and other organisations that support the provision of independent advice. Frontline CAB offices are under partciular pressure to meet expanding demand with limited - and often dwindling - resources.
News
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25 Apr 2013
New research finds that once all the benefits cuts and welfare changes are in place, they will amount to £1.6billion a year.
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23 Apr 2013
Nathan Sparling set himself the challenge of living on £53 for a week when Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith said in an interview he could live off the same amount. He decided to make this an opportunity to fundraise for the Citizens Advice Service and collected £750 in sponsorship.
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11 Apr 2013
The report published by the Scottish Parliament’s Welfare Reform Committee today shows that, when fully implemented, the UK Government’s welfare changes and benefit cuts will take more than £1.6 billion out of the Scottish economy every year.
Publications
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The impact of benefit reforms, changes and cuts on people and families in ScotlandPublication date: March 2013
In October 2011, Citizens Advice Scotland published a briefing entitled The Impact of the Welfare Reform Bill on Scotland’s people and services. The briefing showed that an estimated £2.5 billion would be taken out of the local economy in Scotland during the lifetime of this Parliament and predicted what the impacts would be on people.
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Publication date: February 2013
The Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee launched an enquiry into the issue of underemployment which CAS and Norma Philpott (Chief Executive of CARF) were invited to provide oral evidence to on the 23rd January. This written evidence followed the oral session, reinforcing the arguments made on the day.
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Citizens Advice Scotland briefing for MPsPublication date: January 2013
Background
The Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill was announced following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in December. It will introduce a cap of 1% for three years from 2013/14 on most working-age benefits and tax credits. MPs debate the Bill on Monday 21st January 2013.
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Energy issues brought to citizens advice bureaux in 2011/12Publication date: January 2013
This report examines the types of issues on which clients sought advice with regards to their household energy in 2011/12. It also examines the client profile of people seeking help on such issues, thus allowing support to be targeted at the groups where it is most needed.
