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Publications

  1. CAS submission
    Beth Reid
    Publication date:
    September 2014

    CAS has responded to the Independent Review of Personal Independence Payment. 

    The response, based on case evidence and a survey of advisers in bureaux across Scotland, highlights the severe impact huge delays in PIP assessments are having on claimants.

  2. Citizens Advice Scotland response
    Fraser Sutherland
    Publication date:
    August 2014

    CAS have responded to the The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) consultation on plans to introduce a price-cap on high cost short term credit products.

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  3. Keith Dryburgh
    Publication date:
    August 2014

    The rise in payday lending in the UK has led to a concurrent rise in the number of credit brokers who offer to search for loans for consumers for a fee. Evidence from the citizens advice service indicates that consumers can experience significant detriment and hardship caused by the (often unintentional) use of a credit broker. While brokers can offer a legitimate service, many of the industry practices, including providing misleading information, sharing personal details with other brokers, offering customer applications for the highest commission, and refusing to offer refunds, are in urgent need of change. 

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  4. Andrew Warden
    Publication date:
    August 2014

    CAS respond to the Scottish Government consultation on the Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Offshore Renewables

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  5. "Litchfield Review"
    Beth Reid
    Publication date:
    August 2014

    CAS responds to the final independent review of the Work Capability Assessment for Employment and Support Allowance benefit.

  6. The Newsletter of Citizens Advice Scotland
    Tony Hutson and Greg Black
    Publication date:
    August 2014

    The summer 2014 Newsletter of Citizens Advice Scotland looks at the transfer of Consumer Futures, the Armed Services Advice Project and the #ChallengeIt campaign, amongst many other things.

  7. A discussion paper
    Angus Citizens Advice Bureau
    Publication date:
    August 2014

    A discussion paper by Angus Citizens Advice Bureau looking at the Department for Work and Pension's "Digital by Default" strategy.  In particular, the paper considers how this works for CAB clients in Angus, many of whom have difficulties with technology.

    The report concludes that if the Government is to meet its target of moving 80% of all benefits claimants online, then it must take a multi-dimensional approach that takes into account the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised members of our society to ensure that they are not offline and left behind.

  8. Written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee
    Rob Gowans
    Publication date:
    August 2014

    CAS submitted written evidence to the Committee's inquiry on how local authorities are meeting their duties to people who may be homeless or threatened with homelessness since the abolition of the priority need test at the end of 2012.

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  9. Robert McGeachy
    Publication date:
    August 2014

    Citizens Advice Scotland generally welcomes the approach set out within this consultation and believes it will provide SEPA with a clear policy and service delivery framework. We also believe that it could promote opportunities for SEPA to engage with communities as a Community Planning Partner to improve local outcomes.

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  10. Publication date:
    July 2014

    The UK Statement of principles is designed to assist retailers in their policies on the delivery of goods purchased over the internet by individual consumers. It sets out best practice principles as to how retailers can ensure their delivery services meet the needs of their customers. 

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  11. Rob Gowans
    Publication date:
    July 2014

    This briefing focusses on a concerning aspect of the rise of the zero hours contract – the insecurity of working hours and income caused by workers being guaranteed no set amount of work, or even any hours at all in any given week. The human impact of the insecurity of income can be seen through the stories of CAB clients who have been forced to borrow from payday lenders and even resort to food banks because of significant variances in their pay from week to week. In this situation, budgeting can be impossible and the safety net of the benefits system inaccessible because of the unpredictable nature of their working hours.  We make a number of recommendations including a call for workers on a zero hours contract to be given a statutory ‘right to request’ a contract that guarantees hours, without fear of dismissal.

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  12. Consultation on the Consolidation of Public Drinking Water Regulations
    Sarah Beattie-Smith
    Publication date:
    July 2014

    Citizens Advice Scotland welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Government’s consultation on changes to the Scottish Public drinking water quality regulations. It is anticipated that these changes will align the current legislative framework more closely with the EU’s Drinking Water Directive.

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  13. Beth Reid
    Publication date:
    July 2014

    This report is one of the most detailed examinations of the impact of sanctions in Scotland so far. It provides an analysis of the current system, its impact on clients , real case evidence and the findings of a survey of Scottish CAB advisers. We also provide 16 recommendations that are needed to the current  system and why they are needed.

  14. Response to the Strategic Review of Charges 2015-21 – Draft Determination
    Gail Walker
    Publication date:
    June 2014

    Citizens Advice Scotland welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Strategic Review of Charges 2015-21 Draft Determination. Citizens Advice Scotland supports increased customer engagement in the regulatory process to bring about better outcomes for customers.

    We believe that the process laid out within the Draft Determination will strengthen the link between customer feedback and the service they receive. 

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  15. Fraser Sutherland
    Publication date:
    June 2014

    New research from Citizens Advice Scotland has found that many bereaved Scots are finding it hard to pay the growing costs of burying their loved ones.

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  16. Beth Reid
    Publication date:
    June 2014

    In October 2013 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) made it a requirement that all claimants for benefits who wanted to take a case to appeal would have to get a DWP decision maker to reconsider the decision first. This is known as a mandatory reconsideration. Whilst claimants must ask for mandatory reconsideration within four weeks from the notice of a decision; there are no timescales within which the DWP have to respond though the aim is within 16 working days.

  17. Publication date:
    June 2014

    ‘Kinship care’ is the term for people who look after children who are part of their extended family. They can be the grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles or close friends of children whose parents are no longer able to care for them. These people do a great service for the children by providing a stable family home and to society by saving the money that would be spent if the state needed to care of these children.

  18. Fraser Sutherland
    Publication date:
    May 2014

    The number of Scots falling victim to financial rip-offs is increasing dramatically. A special helpline set up by CAS to deal solely with consumer issues saw a 14% increase last year in calls about scams.

  19. Evidence to Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities Committee
    Rob Gowans
    Publication date:
    May 2014

    CAS submitted written evidence to the Equal Opportunities Committee's follow-up inquiry to their 'Having and Keeping a Home' report in 2012 which examined the causes of homelessness amongst young people and steps that could be taken to prevent it.

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  20. Conference report
    Citizens Advice Bureaux in Glasgow
    Publication date:
    May 2014

    Leading charities gathered in the Glasgow City Chambers for The Working Together to Tackle Poverty Conference in March 2014.

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