Publications

Advice 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.

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.

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.

The 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.

As 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.

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.

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.

Citizens Advice Scotland welcomes new measures that will improve and protect water sources within catchment areas, and will mitigate the need for Scottish Water to treat contaminated water to the cost of the paying customer.