Publications

Costs for burials and cremations have increased in Scotland in 2015 while more people seek advice from their local CAB than ever before about paying for funerals.

The civil court process can be daunting: the language, complex forms and buildings themselves are alien to most people. Lay representatives can make the process of pursuing or defending civil rights accessible through providing advice, support and practical help. 

Employment problems are one of the most common types of issues that people seek advice on at a citizens advice bureau. Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has published reports showing the impact of poor employment practices, Employment Tribunal fees, non-payment of Employment Tribunal awards, and the misuse of zero hours contracts, which are causes for concern based on the negative experience of CAB clients in Scotland.   This briefing was sent to all MSPs ahead of the debate on Employee Rights and Access to Justice tabled by The Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training, Roseanna Cunningham.  

The independent research company Rocket Science UK Ltd and the environmental charity Changeworks were commissioned by Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) to carry out focus group research with owner-occupiers and private renting tenants in Scotland to explore:

• their attitudes and awareness of energy efficiency measures;
• the potential barriers they might face to taking action on energy efficiency measures; and
• how they would likely respond to any future regulation of energy efficiency in the private sector. 

This research findings report provides the results from four focus groups held in October 2014: two were held in the City of Edinburgh and two were held in Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders. In each location one focus group was with owner occupiers and one focus group was with tenants who rent their property.

The Citizens Advice Service (Citizens Advice – England & Wales and Citizens Advice Scotland) commissioned the Centre for Sustainable Energy to conduct research on the energy tariff options for consumers in vulnerable situations. The project aimed to provide researchers, policy makers and energy market stakeholders with a better understanding of the range of options available to ensure that vulnerable consumers, disengaged from the energy market, are not penalised by higher tariffs.

The Citizens Advice Service (Citizens Advice - England & Wales and Citizens Advice Scotland) commissioned the Association for the Conservation of Energy, CAG Consultants, Centre for Sustainable Energy and Dr Joanne Wade to investigate the case for the local delivery of home energy efficiency and fuel poverty services across Great Britain. 

CAS respond to the Scottish Governments second consultation on a new tenancy for the private rented sector.

The Scottish Government’s consultation focuses on changes to the public procurement rules in Scotland. These changes are as a result of new EU legislation, and are designed to further simplify the public procurement rules, and to support wider public policy aims including delivering sustainable economic growth. CAS’ response highlights the need to make sure that the changes deliver positive outcomes for the paying public, and deliver value for the service end users. Our response also emphasises that the changes to the procurement rules need to ensure that public bodies promote fair employment practice through public procurement.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) is the statutory consumer representative in Scotland. Our service delivers advice and advocacy for consumers on issues from energy to banking and from housing rights to payday loans as well as providing holistic advice and support for hundreds of thousands of people on issues from benefits to immigration.

The Citizens Advice service is one which is well recognised by the Scottish public.  A survey of CAB clients and members of the public found that 98% felt they could trust the confidential service we provide, with 97% praising the service for helping people get fair treatment. A recent report produced by the Fraser of Allander institute found that the Scottish CAB service contributed a total benefit to the common good in Scotland of nearly £170 million.

The Command Paper states that “consumer advocacy and advice” will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament as part of the further devolution of powers and details the specific statutory powers, duties and functions that will transfer to Scotland.

Citizens Advice Scotland looks forward to working with both parliaments and governments to determine how best to deliver new powers. We are of the view that CAS is and should remain at the heart of the consumer landscape and that we have a key role to play in delivering an excellent advice and advocacy service for consumers.

CAS reports to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills on work undertaken and funded by the UK Government or through a levy on industry. Reports on our work in relation to the regulated markets of energy and post are laid before the UK Parliament. In addition, we report to the Scottish Government on our work on behalf of water consumers in Scotland. This reporting is laid before the Scottish Parliament. We would expect to report to any future funder and/or accountable body in a similar way.