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Publications

  1. Citizens Advice Scotland
    Publication date:
    December 2020

    This is the Annual Report for Citizens Advice Scotland for the 2019-20 financial year.

  2. MPs will debate excess delivery charges at Westminster on 9 December 2020. CAS has campaigned on this issue for a number of years - read CAS's briefing to MPs here.
    Tracey Reilly
    Publication date:
    December 2020
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  3. Debbie Horne
    Publication date:
    December 2020

    In 2018-19, the Citizens Advice network helped over 270,000 clients in Scotland with almost 750,000 advice issues. With support from the network, clients had financial gains of over £131 million and our self-help website Advice in Scotland received approximately 3.7 million views.

    The Citizens Advice network issued 311,714 pieces of advice on benefit issues, the single largest area of advice for the network in 2018-19. Since February this year the network has provided over 85,000 pieces of advice on Universal Credit alone.

  4. This document contains data on housing advice code trends and the most common housing advice codes.
    Nina Ballantyne
    Publication date:
    December 2020

    This document summarises trends in advice code data related to housing. All charts are based on advice code data. These are recorded by advisers every time advice in relation to a particular topic is issued. All figures are expressed as percentages of their “parent” advice code category: e.g. housing advice is expressed as a proportion of all advice issues, and PRS advice is expressed as a proportion of all housing advice. This allows for more effective comparisons between months when overall numbers of clients fluctuate and/or there are changes in advice provision (e.g. the shift to telephone and email at lockdown).

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  5. The Citizens Advice Scotland network magazine
    Publication date:
    December 2020

    Issue of 4 of the Citizens Advice network in Scotland magazine.

     

     

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  6. CAS Research Team
    Publication date:
    November 2020

    Statistical briefing on advice given; client demographics based on an annual survey of CAB clients undertake for 4 weeks in November 2019 including comparison to SIMD data.

  7. CAS Research Team
    Publication date:
    November 2020

    Briefing on paid staff and volunteers; types of services provided to compliment the generalist service; client gains; how clients contacted CAB and the work undertaken by CAB in addition to giving advice.

  8. Debbie Horne
    Publication date:
    November 2020

    At the start of the on-going pandemic, CAS welcomed the quick action taken to boost the level of payment of Universal Credit (UC).

    Since March, Scotland’s Citizens Advice Network has provided over 85,000 pieces of advice on Universal Credit. The role of UC in the social security safety-net has never been as important as in the current crisis.

  9. Debbie Horne
    Publication date:
    November 2020

    CAS produced this data briefing alongside a policy briefing calling for the £20 a week increase to Universal Credit to be made permanent.

  10. Debbie Horne
    Publication date:
    November 2020

    Citizens Advice Scotland recommends the draft regulations are amended to change or clarify a number of areas to improve the social security support provided to disabled children and young people.

  11. Michael O'Brien
    Publication date:
    November 2020

    CAS welcomes a one-year extension to the Warm Home Discount scheme to 2021/22. As a result of the time pressures for securing this extension, we recognise the limitations of the proposals outlined. To have a meaningful impact, future changes to the scheme design must be complimented by an increase to the spending envelope. CAS also welcomes a discussion around devolution and the recognition that fuel poverty targeting could potentially be done more effectively at a national level. 

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  12. Publication date:
    November 2020
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  13. Gail Walker
    Publication date:
    November 2020

    Citizens Advice Scotland welcomes the opportunity to respond to WICS’ Strategic Review of Charges 2021-27: Draft Determination consultation.

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  14. Publication date:
    November 2020

    We work on the issues that matter to our network’s clients and our member CAB. Our focus is on delivering advocacy drawn from the experience and insights of the Scottish Citizens Advice network, which is rooted in communities across the country. 

  15. Debbie Horne
    Publication date:
    October 2020

    Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the Social Security Committee’s call for evidence on the role of Scottish Social Security in COVID-19 recovery.

  16. Michael O'Brien and Alastair Wilcox
    Publication date:
    October 2020

    Complex metering arrangements are found in significant numbers across both the Scottish electricity network distribution licence areas. Our advocacy on behalf of consumers in Scotland with non-E7 restricted meters is informed by the evidence of our network, where consumer detriment and problems with market access are commonly reported. CAS strongly supports the extension of SLC22G, but our response makes further recommendations to Ofgem which we believe require consideration if the extended market intervention is to be effective. 

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  17. Debbie Horne, Jemiel Benson
    Publication date:
    September 2020

    In 2018-19, the Citizens Advice network helped over 270,000 clients in Scotland with almost 750,000 advice issues. With support from the network, clients had financial gains of over £131 million and our self-help website Advice in Scotland received approximately 3.7 million views. 

    The Citizens Advice network dealt with 110,439 debt issues around half of which were government or local authority debts. Advisers gave advice regarding benefit related debt problems, our main UK wide government debt issue on 5,557 occasions.

  18. Alastair Wilcox
    Publication date:
    September 2020

    In 2019, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) commissioned research to ascertain consumers’ views on and experiences of the gas and electricity distribution networks in Scotland, and their priorities for future distribution network investment. We also explored the attitudes of consumers in Scotland towards some of the potential changes in electricity use that may be required as the energy system evolves to support Scottish and UK Government climate change targets, and consumers' understanding and opinions of some of the technologies that are envisaged to aid the energy transition. In addition, we explored consumers’ views on a potential increase in the electrification of heat in Scotland, and their enthusiasm for and opinions of future opportunities to provide flexibility to their electricity distribution network operator.

    This report summarises the results of our research and considers how Scotland’s gas and electricity distribution networks might be able to help redefine consumers’ relationship with the energy system in support of Scottish and UK Government climate change policies. It is published alongside a summary of its key findings and the final report compiled by our research partner, Accent.

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  19. Debbie Horne
    Publication date:
    September 2020

    Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Spending Review process and provide our insight and data. Protecting and maximising household incomes and averting mass unemployment are the essential foundations on which the Spending Review in this time of COVID-19 must be built. The Government can do this by committing to the following actions;

    • Implementing targeted job protection initiatives to avert unemployment,
    • Strengthening the Universal Credit safety net by ensuring level of payments are maintained at least at current levels,
    • Making Universal Credit work for those in work.

  20. Kyle Scott
    Publication date:
    September 2020

    In early 2020, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) commissioned Ipsos MORI to undertake exploratory research on the impact of Brexit on individuals, businesses and communities across Scotland. The findings of this research will assist CAS in understanding the future potential advice and support needs of Scottish communities

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