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Publication date:April 2015The Scottish Government’s consultation focuses on changes to the public procurement rules in Scotland. These changes are as a result of new EU legislation, and are designed to further simplify the public procurement rules, and to support wider public policy aims including delivering sustainable economic growth. CAS’ response highlights the need to make sure that the changes deliver positive outcomes for the paying public, and deliver value for the service end users. Our response also emphasises that the changes to the procurement rules need to ensure that public bodies promote fair employment practice through public procurement.
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Oversight of DWP activities in Scotland and Draft Clauses on welfarePublication date:April 2015
This submission is based on CAS’ arguably unique insight into benefits administration in Scotland. In 2013/14, Scottish Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) dealt with over 324,000 benefits and tax credits issues – 36.6% of all CAB advice. In the nine months of April to December 2014, we dealt with a total of 248,000 issues – accounting for 37.2% of all CAB advice. CAB are the leading providers of advice in this area and we provide our service in 30 out of 32 local authority areas reaching 94% of the population.
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) welcomed the Smith Commission and much of the Command Paper, and look forward to working with all those involved in the transfer and transition of powers to the Scottish Parliament. We have called for this to be carried out in the best interests of the people of Scotland. Our submission to the Smith Commission focused on three principles – fairness, responsiveness and equality.
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Consumer DevolutionPublication date:April 2015
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) is the statutory consumer representative in Scotland. Our service delivers advice and advocacy for consumers on issues from energy to banking and from housing rights to payday loans as well as providing holistic advice and support for hundreds of thousands of people on issues from benefits to immigration.
The Citizens Advice service is one which is well recognised by the Scottish public. A survey of CAB clients and members of the public found that 98% felt they could trust the confidential service we provide, with 97% praising the service for helping people get fair treatment. A recent report produced by the Fraser of Allander institute found that the Scottish CAB service contributed a total benefit to the common good in Scotland of nearly £170 million.
The Command Paper states that “consumer advocacy and advice” will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament as part of the further devolution of powers and details the specific statutory powers, duties and functions that will transfer to Scotland.
Citizens Advice Scotland looks forward to working with both parliaments and governments to determine how best to deliver new powers. We are of the view that CAS is and should remain at the heart of the consumer landscape and that we have a key role to play in delivering an excellent advice and advocacy service for consumers.
CAS reports to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills on work undertaken and funded by the UK Government or through a levy on industry. Reports on our work in relation to the regulated markets of energy and post are laid before the UK Parliament. In addition, we report to the Scottish Government on our work on behalf of water consumers in Scotland. This reporting is laid before the Scottish Parliament. We would expect to report to any future funder and/or accountable body in a similar way.
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Publication date:April 2015
Narrowing the digital divide in Scotland is one of the most important issues faced by policymakers. However, there citizens across Scotland who are excluded from this valuable resource and in turn excluded from the benefits access to the internet can bring.
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Publication date:April 2015
A study of employment issues amongst BME workers within Perth and Kinross
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Challenging the costs of Funerals in ScotlandPublication date:April 2015Advice regarding funerals has risen in recent years, as our recent Real Deal publication on the subject highlighted, and the CAB service now helps with just over one issue a day in Scotland regarding funerals.
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Publication date:April 2015
Citizens Advice Scotland's Work Plan for Water 2015-16
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The impact of Employment Tribunal fees on CAB clients in ScotlandPublication date:March 2015This report presents findings from a collaborative research project between the University of Strathclyde and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) into the views of Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) advisers within Scotland on the impact of Employment Tribunal (ET) fees.
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Citizens Advice Service response to the consultation on the updated issues statementPublication date:March 2015
This publication provides the joint response of Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland (the 'Citizens Advice Service') to the Competition & Markets Authority's (CMA) energy market investigation consultation on their updated issues statement published on 18 February 2015.
The submission provides detailed comments on each of the theories of harm, as well as an overview of the Citizens Advice Service's views on the CMA's interim findings and the areas where we believe analysis should be further developed.
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Scottish Parliament debate - 'An End to In-Work Poverty'Publication date:March 2015
The most recent figures from the Scottish Government show that in-work poverty is rising. The majority of working age adults in poverty (52%) are now from working households and it is not the case that work by itself is a route out of poverty. Citizens advice bureaux in Scotland are reporting a growing number of cases where clients are in work, but are struggling to pay for essentials. Citizens Advice Scotland’s ongoing ‘Working at the Edge’ series of publications examines the growing problems caused by in-work poverty through the stories of the thousands of clients advised by citizens advice bureaux in Scotland, and makes recommendations for change.
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Publication date:March 2015Our series of briefings ‘Voices from the Frontline’ show the reality of the impact of current welfare changes on the people of Scotland. We highlight the experiences of the thousands of clients advised by CAB in Scotland and make recommendations for change.
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Implementing the Smith Agreement: Welfare benefitsPublication date:March 2015Spotlight:
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Implementing the Smith Agreement: Civil protections and advicePublication date:March 2015Spotlight:
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The Confidence Code is a voluntary code of practice for domestic energy price comparison sitesPublication date:February 2015The Citizens Advice Service welcomes the opportunity to respond to the consultation on Ofgem’s proposed drafting for the Confidence Code to reflect January 2015 policy changes.
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Consultation responsePublication date:February 2015As the statutory representative for consumers of postal services across Scotland, England and Wales, the Citizens Advice Service are pleased to respond to offer comments on the postal elements of Ofcom’s Draft Annual Plan 2015/16.
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Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland and Consumer Council for Northern Ireland consultation responsePublication date:February 2015As the statutory representative for consumers of postal services across Scotland, England, and Wales the Citizens Advice Service and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland are pleased to respond to Ofcom’s consultation on Royal Mail Access Pricing and its specific aims to amend the regulatory framework relating to the Universal Service Provider Access (USPA) Condition.
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Consultation responsePublication date:February 2015As the statutory representative for consumers of postal services across Scotland, England and Wales, The Citizens Advice Service responds to Royal Mail’s consultation document on the introduction of New International Large Letters format.
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Publication date:February 2015
CAS welcomes new the Draft Provision of Water and Sewerage Services (Reasonable Cost) (Scotland) Regulations 2015 and would welcome clarity from the Scottish Government on whether any review of Council Tax / local taxation may impact the Regulations with regard to council tax banding.
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Protecting Scotland’s Workers from Unfair TreatmentPublication date:February 2015Spotlight: -
Publication date:January 2015
This is the second Priorities Report by the Consumer Protection Partnership (CPP), of which CAS is a member, following the publication of the first Priorities Report in November 2013.
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Stressed About Debt? High costs of energy, food and fuel mean that many people are finding it impossible to keep up, worrying about debt or falling behind on bills. The Citizens Advice network in Scotland is here for you, with free, confidential and impartial advice in a variety of ways.