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Publication date:August 2023
CAS has responded to the Equality, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee's call for views on the Legal Services Regulation (Scotland) Bill.
In our response:
› CAS reiterates our view that the Roberton model of a single independent regulator would deliver the greatest improvements for consumers in terms of transparency, accountability, and clarity of process. We underline our disappointment that the Bill has disregarded this model in favour of adding more layers of complexity to the existing landscape.
› We express our disappointment that the promise of a regulatory regime with consumers at its heart does not seem to be delivered in the substance of the draft Bill – with many opportunities missed to strengthen the consumer interest.
› We call for a clearer statutory role for consumer representation on the proposed regulatory committees (as distinct from generic lay representation), as well as consumer involvement in setting minimum standards for regulators.
› We query the rationale for affording a lesser degree of scrutiny and accountability to current category 2 regulators in the draft Bill.
› We welcome measures aimed at streamlining the complaints process including reducing complaints handling time, extending the remit to non-regulated for-profit providers, and introducing hybrid complaints. However, we caution that the retention of various layers and channels a complaint can take fails to deliver a simpler pathway for consumers, and we express concern about the removal of compensation for conduct complaints, as well as removal of the right to appeal SLSC decisions to an external body.
› We welcome the expanded remit of the SLSC’s Consumer Panel but caution against the panel being seen as the catch all consumer scrutiny forum without increased resources to enable the panel to discharge these functions.
› Regarding ministerial oversight, we call for greater consideration of the evidence sources for these interventions to be triggered, and the capacity this may require from the named bodies as well as consumer bodies fielding this data.
› We call for urgent clarity regarding the definitions of ‘fee, gain and reward’, upon which third sector liability for entity regulation hinges. The variability of definitions of restricted and unrestricted legal services also poses concerns for the advice sector and we call for statutory consultation with these providers in the event of any change being considered.
› We welcome the intention of the draft Bill to stimulate diversification in the legal services market, but we remain unclear how or whether the current provisions would enable this in practice. It remains difficult to envisage how the provisions around ABS and practicing restrictions might address the significant gaps in provision which CAS has repeatedly highlighted, without corresponding consideration of the pressing issue of legal aid reform.
To read our full response download here.
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Publication date:July 2023
An evaluation of the Debt Happens campaign, which ran in Spring 2023.
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Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers BillPublication date:July 2023
Citizens Advice Scotland has provided written evidence to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee in relation to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill
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Publication date:June 2023Spotlight:
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Publication date:June 2023
CAS Financial Statements for year ended 31st March 2022
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Publication date:June 2023
An evaluation of the 2022-23 Big Energy Saving Winter campaign
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Publication date:May 2023Spotlight:
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Issue 10 of the Citizens Advice Scotland network magazinePublication date:May 2023
Welcome to the Spring 2023 edition of Voice Magazine.
In this issue:
- one bureau's response to the cost of living crisis
- we profile two student volunteers
- a look at the PASS service
- we hear from Tom Arthur MSP.
Read it online or download a PDF.
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Publication date:May 2023
This briefing considers how the CAB network in Scotland can help deliver a world leading Community Wealth Building agenda in Scotland.
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CAS RespondsPublication date:April 2023
We have responded to the Scottish Government's consultation on how the mobility component of the new Adult Disability Payment is working.
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Publication date:April 2023Spotlight:
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Publication date:April 2023
On 14 March 2023, Citizens Advice Scotland's Strong Communities Team gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament Equality Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee's session on Access to Justice. This supporting evidence was submitted in writing afterwards.
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Publication date:March 2023
Citizens Advice Scotland responded to the Ofgem consultation on prepayment meters.
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November 2022Publication date:March 2023
The need for emergency food aid continues to be a prominent issue throughout Scotland with demand for food banks on the rise in post-Covid recovery and the cost-of-living crisis. The purpose of the Shopping Card Pilot was to investigate alternative methods of reducing food insecurity and providing immediate financial need. The pilot intended to provide households with greater dignity and choice alongside provision of money advice as a way to provide long term support.
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Consultation on revising Ofcom’s Network and Information Services (NIS) GuidancePublication date:March 2023
Citizens Advice Scotland has responded to Ofcom's consultation on proposed changes to Ofcom’s NIS Guidance focusing on Incident Reporting Thresholds for the digital infrastructure subsector.
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Publication date:February 2023
Citizens Advice Scotland has responded to Ofcom's proposed plan of work for 2023/24.
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Publication date:February 2023Spotlight:
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Publication date:February 2023Spotlight:
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Issue 9 of the Citizens Advice Scotland network magazinePublication date:January 2023
Welcome to the Winter 2022/23 edition of Voice Magazine.
We have had a little break and we are pleased to be back and bringing you this issue of Voice.
We look at the work of the Extra Help Unit as they deal with unprecedented demand and people at risk of self-disconnection. And we look at the brand new CAS strategy and what that means for your bureau.
Read it online or download a pdf.
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Publication date:January 2023Spotlight:
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.