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Publication date:February 2017The Consumer Futures Unit is publishing a series of briefing sheets that draw together evidence and recommendations on issues relevant to energy, post and water consumers in Scotland. This briefing gives an overview of consumer issues in relation to rural fuel poverty, and was first used at the CFU's Rural Futures Conference in 2017.
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Publication date:February 2017The Consumer Futures Unit is publishing a series of briefing sheets that draw together evidence and recommendations on issues relevant to energy, post and water consumers in Scotland. This briefing gives an overview of consumer issues in relation to postal services in rural areas, and was first used at the CFU's Rural Futures Conference in 2017.
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A summary of evidence gathered by Citizens Advice Bureau about their workPublication date:February 2017
During 2015/16 Citizens Advice Bureaux supported over 260,000 clients across Scotland with over 910,000 advice needs, none of which could have been achieved without the almost 2,400 volunteers and 1,000 paid staff. If standard opening hours are used as a benchmark, that would imply that one advice query is dealt with every 19 seconds!
The 'Advice in Scotland 2015-16' report provides all the detail, while the briefing paper covers the highlights.
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Edition 4: Client Advice Profile 2015Publication date:February 2017
Each November, an annual drive to collect profile information on all clients approaching Bureaux for advice - this report covers some of the findings from the 2015 exercise.
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Scottish Affairs CommitteePublication date:February 2017
Scotland’s CAB network provides a substantial amount of advice relating to problems at work. In 2015/16, citizens advice bureaux in Scotland advised clients on 48,530 new employment issues.
Examples of unfair employment practices that have affected CAB clients include unfair dismissal; not being paid for work carried out; being paid considerably below the National Minimum Wage; being denied sick pay or paid holiday; and instances of bullying and discrimination including racism, and women who were dismissed when they became pregnant.
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Scottish consumer advice about food and drink issuesPublication date:December 2016Scotland’s food and drink industry is one of the best in the world but some consumers in Scotland are getting a raw deal and facing poor quality produce and service by some leading food retailers and manufacturers.
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Summary of presentations and discussionPublication date:December 2016Following our Round the Bend report we invited policy experts in public transport, consumer organisations, government officials and community representatives to discuss the issues facing rural communities and public transport.
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Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy CommitteePublication date:December 2016
The emergence of so-called new forms of employment relationships between
workers and employers has put a strain on existing employment protections. In
particular, the misuse of zero hours contracts has been a major concern for CAS over the past three years.Spotlight: -
New businesses and the non-domestic water marketPublication date:December 2016The CFU's Water Team has worked in partnership with the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, Business Gateway, Scottish Water and the Federation of Small Businesses to develop an information leaflet for new businesses about the non-domestic water market in Scotland.
The leaflet will help to improve outcomes for business consumers in non-domestic water market in Scotland. It is hoped that the leaflet, by targeting new businesses, will alert them to the wide range of options available, and to ensure customers get the best deals. the leaflet will be available from the Business Gateway advice network, as well as through other networks in the non-domestic water market.
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Consultation response from Citizens Advice ScotlandPublication date:November 2016
CAS is generally concerned about the restriction on families to only
being able to claim Child Tax Credits or Universal Credit for two children, and
would recommend the Government reconsider the policy in its entirety rather
than making exemptions to it.Spotlight: -
Citizens Advice Scotland briefing for MSPsPublication date:November 2016Designing a new social security system for Scotland is a major opportunity and challenge. CAS has attempted to bring the best of our unique evidence base to inform the development of the new system based on the experiences of those who work with the current system on a daily basis. In developing a substantial response to the Scottish Government’s recent public consultation on the devolved social security system, CAS carried out specific engagement activity with 144 CAB clients and 102 CAB advisers with direct experience of the current system, in addition to CAB case information which provide real time insights into the daily operation of the system.
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National Assistance Funerals and the Consequences of Funeral PovertyPublication date:November 2016This report follows on from a previous study by the Stirling and Perth & Kinross Citizens Advice
Bureaux entitled Unearthing the ‘true cost’ of Funerals.Spotlight: -
CAS responsePublication date:October 2016Designing a new social security system for Scotland is a major opportunity and challenge. In this substantial consultation response, Citizens Advice Scotland has attempted to bring the best of our unique evidence base to inform the development of the new system based on the experiences of those who work with the current system on a daily basis.
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Citizens Advice Scotland has published the first ever impact report detailing the positive contribution the service makes to Scottish society.Publication date:October 2016In our first report of this kind, we demonstrate the impact of the Scottish Citizens Advice service on the 310,000-plus clients who received help in 2015/16, as well as touching on the wider benefits of our work to the rest of society.
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Scottish Government consultationPublication date:September 2016
Citizens Advice Scotland agrees that the Scottish Government should
include in statute an ambition to eradicate child poverty. It is equally important
however that this ambition is backed up by clear strategies with specific,
measurable and deliverable actions that are directly linked to reducing the
levels of child poverty in Scotland.Spotlight: -
Second Independent ReviewPublication date:September 2016CAS has responded to the call for evidence to inform the second independent review of Personal Independence Payment.
Despite improvements having been made to waiting times and other aspects of benefit delivery, fundamental problems remain with respect to the design of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), specifically around assessments, medical evidence, length of awards, accuracy of decision making and mandatory reconsideration.
These are all issues that CAS raised in our response to the first independent review, and it is now crucial that solutions to these issues are found before more people experience similar problems as they undergo the transition from DLA to PIP.
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Burial and cremation charges in Scotland 2016Publication date:September 2016The basic cost of burial fees in Scotland (i.e. not including undertakers fees) is on average £1,363 in 2016. That’s a 7% increase since 2015.
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Improving information and signposting for users and managers of private water suppliesPublication date:September 2016
The Consumer Futures Unit of Citizens Advice Scotland is very pleased to invite you to tender for research into Improving information and signposting for users and managers of private water supplies. Our Specification of Requirement sets out the research scope and timescales for delivery. Please also download a Pricing Schedule.
The closing date for clarification questions is Friday 16 September 2016 and we would ask that tenders are submitted by Friday 30 September 2016.
Many thanks and we look forward to hearing from you.
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Issues affecting flooded consumers and ability to access affordable insurancePublication date:September 2016CAS undertook a detailed survey research of 178 households in Scotland, over two thirds of which live in a flood risk area based on SEPA analysis.
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The poverty premium in energy, telecommunications and finance in ScotlandPublication date:August 2016As Scotland’s consumer champion, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) is driven to identify and mitigate consumer vulnerability through evidence-based advocacy and education. While anyone can be a vulnerable consumer, those on a low income can find themselves particularly susceptible to financial detriment.
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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.