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Scottish Parliament Social Security Committee inquiryPublication date:October 2019
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) welcomes the opportunity to provide evidence to the inquiry. In 2018-19, Scotland’s CAB network provided advice on 311,714 issues related to benefits, representing 44% of all advice given in that year. To further inform our submission, CAS surveyed 65 CAB advisers, representing a wide range of geographical areas, to gain their insight into issues surrounding benefit uptake.
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A snapshot of citizens advice bureaux clientsPublication date:October 2019
Our 7th edition in the 'Who Are You?' series describes those coming to citizens advice bureaux in Scotland for advice during November 2018.
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Publication date:October 2019
Prices changes during the next regulatory period 2021 – 2027 may have a bearing on paying customers, particularly those on low income. CAS recently conducted research using Fraser of Allander Institute to understand how potential price change scenarios may affect aspects of affordability. Research sought to identify what proportion of Scottish households would be likely to spend more than 3% of income on water and sewerage under four charge scenarios between 2021/22 and 2027/28 (2%, 2.5%, 3% and 3.5%).
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CAS response to the Insolvency Service's call for evidence on regulation of Insolvency Practitioners
Publication date:October 2019Citizens Advice Scotland has responded to the Insolvency Service's call for evidence on Insolvency Practitioner regulation.
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Publication date:October 2019
CAS welcomes the FCA's commitment to vulnerable consumers and the guidance they have published to help firms understand their obligations.
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Publication date:September 2019
This is CAS’s response to the Call for Evidence on the Annual Energy Statement. We believe that while Scotland is likely to miss its target of achieving 11% of heat demand coming from renewables by 2020, there are actions the Scottish Government can take to ensure that it remains on course for achieving net zero by 2045, including;
› Boosting public buy-in by stepping up practical and financial support for consumers
› Driving technological innovation
› Reducing the cost of renewables
These measures will help to address what CAS believes are the key risks and threats to achieving the 2045 target:
› the initial cost of moving to renewable heat sources
› the lack of public awareness and buy-in to the scale of the change needed
› the quality of installations and access to redress when things go wrong
› the lack of advice and guidance on how to properly use low carbon heating systems to best effect
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Publication date:September 2019
CAS welcomes Ofgem’s proposals to improve outcomes for consumers who experience self-disconnection and self-rationing. We have identified a number of priorities:
- The standardisation of friendly credit dates and hours, where technically feasible
- Improvements to emergency credit provision, which maintains flexibility, but allows for the maintenance of supply in a reasonable worst case scenario
- The removal of barriers to discretionary credit, which maintains protection from excessive debt, but enhances consumer choice
- Improvements in how suppliers communicate with their prepayment customers, for e.g. as regards the seasonal accrual of standing charges
- The formalisation of Ofgem’s Ability to Pay principles in the licence code
- Utilisation of the full suite of smart functionality, for e.g. suppliers switching meters to credit mode to maintain supply
- Viable alternatives to prepayment, for e.g. clarification on the future of Third Party Deductions for energy (Fuel Direct)
- The extension of fuel voucher schemes (fuel credits)
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Publication date:September 2019
This is CAS’s response to the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) Regulations 2019. We welcome mandatory standards of energy efficiency in the private rented sector, provided that:
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Publication date:September 2019
CAS has responded to BEIS’ Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme (HBRS) and Common Tariff Obligation (CTO) consultation. Both are subject to a statutory 3-year review and are designed, respectively, to subsidise the cost of electricity distribution in the North of Scotland to avoid disproportionately higher distribution network costs for consumers vs. those charged in the rest of GB; and to prevent domestic suppliers from offering less favourable terms to remote rural and island communities in the North of Scotland than they do to comparable consumers located elsewhere within the North of Scotland electricity distribution network operator region.
The HBRS imposes a levy on every electricity consumer in GB. For a typical dual fuel domestic consumer, this equates to about £1 per annum. To date, however, the additional costs of electricity distribution in the Shetland islands has been fully met by consumers in the North of Scotland. It is proposed that this will change and will instead be distributed throughout GB.
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Publication date:September 2019
Our series of briefings, 'Voices from the Frontline', demonstrates the impact of changes to the UK social security system on people in Scotland. This latest briefing considers the impact of the five-week wait for a first payment for Universal Credit.
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Publication date:August 2019
The Markets and Systems policy team at Citizens Advice Scotland puts consumers at the heart of policy and regulation in the energy, post and water sectors in Scotland. We work with governments, regulators and business to put consumers first, designing policy and practice around their needs.
Our advocacy work is evidence led and we use a combination of independent research and evidence from the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland to speak up for consumers.
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Publication date:August 2019
CAS welcomes the opportunity to respond to the ENAs consultation. We think that the consultation raises issues that need to be quickly addressed as the electricity flexibility market develops.
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Publication date:August 2019
CAS has responded to the Accountant in Bankruptcy's consultation on returning funds to the free sector.
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Publication date:August 2019
Citizens Advice Scotland has responded to a call for written evidence on the Debt Arrangement Scheme Regulations 2019.
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Publication date:August 2019
CAS has responded to the Financial Ombudsman Service's consultation on its future funding.
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Publication date:August 2019
CAS is pleased to respond to the consultation on the proposed Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill. This Bill aims to protect private sector tenants by limiting rent increases and by increasing the availability of information about rent levels across Scotland.
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Scottish Affairs Committee inquiryPublication date:August 2019
CAS recognises that Universal Credit (UC) may be working well for some people. However, evidence from across the Scottish Citizens Advice network suggests that a significant number of people -who are often already vulnerable and/or marginalised- are experiencing hardship and detriment as a result of having to claim UC.
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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.