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Publications

  1. "Measures to ensure the Scottish water and sewerage non-household retail market work well"
    Publication date:
    June 2016

    The Consumer Futures Unit's response to the Commission's consultation seeking views on measures to ensure the Scottish water and sewerage non-household retail market
    works well.

  2. Progress on parcel deliveries in Scotland 2012-2015
    David Moyes & Kate Morrison
    Publication date:
    September 2015

    The latest in a series of reports into problems faced by consumers in Scotland when shopping online, this reports charts the progress of delivery charges from 2012-2015.

  3. CAS submission to the Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee
    Rob Gowans
    Publication date:
    August 2015

    Scotland’s Citizens Advice Service is the most common external source of advice for employees who experience problems at work. In 2014/15 clients sought advice on 50,625 new employment issues, a number that has been increasing in recent years. Additionally, citizens advice bureaux see first-hand the effects of in-work poverty, with a growing number of working clients seeking advice because they are struggling to pay for essentials. These twin problems – unfair employment practices and low paid jobs – represent a worrying trend in recent years and ones which CAS believes need to be addressed.

  4. Rob Gowans
    Publication date:
    December 2014

    Childcare in Scotland has moved up the political agenda in recent years with the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 extending the amount of free early education available for three and four year olds as well as looked-after two year olds, those in kinship care and those from workless households, from 475 to 600 hours per year.

  5. The Postcode Penalty: The Business Burden
    Rob Gowans
    Publication date:
    April 2014

    The Scottish CAB service has been campaigning on the issue of unfair delivery charges for the past four years.

    Spotlight:
  6. The impact of benefit reforms, changes and cuts on people and families in Scotland
    Keith Dryburgh
    Publication date:
    March 2013

    In October 2011, Citizens Advice Scotland published a briefing entitled The Impact of  the Welfare Reform Bill on Scotland’s people and services. The briefing showed that  an estimated £2.5 billion would be taken out of the local economy in Scotland during  the lifetime of this Parliament and predicted what the impacts would be on people. 

  7. Lauren Wood
    Publication date:
    February 2013

    The Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee launched an enquiry into the issue of underemployment which CAS and Norma Philpott (Chief Executive of CARF) were invited to provide oral evidence to on the 23rd January.  This written evidence followed the oral session, reinforcing the arguments made on the day.

    Spotlight:
  8. Citizens Advice Scotland briefing for MPs
    Publication date:
    January 2013

    Background

    The Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill was announced following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in December. It will introduce a cap of 1% for three years from 2013/14 on most working-age benefits and tax credits.  MPs debate the Bill on Monday 21st January 2013.

  9. Energy issues brought to citizens advice bureaux in 2011/12
    Sarah Beattie-Smith
    Publication date:
    January 2013

    This report examines the types of issues on which clients sought advice with regards to their household energy in 2011/12. It also examines the client profile of people seeking help on such issues, thus allowing support to be targeted at the groups where it is most needed.

    Spotlight:
  10. How some online retailers are disadvantaging Scottish consumers
    Sarah Beattie-Smith
    Publication date:
    December 2012

    Over 1 million Scots are being ‘routinely ripped off’ by unfair delivery charges because of where they live, according to new evidence published by Citizens Advice Scotland.

    By analysing over 3,000 customer complaints and over 500 online companies, we have uncovered a ‘postcode penalty’ that sees some Scots having to pay an average of nearly £19 extra when buying goods online. The problem does not just affect remote rural and island areas, but postcodes right across Scotland. It hits businesses as well as families.

  11. The financial benefits of advice provision - the example of the Citizens Advice Service in Scotland
    Publication date:
    November 2012

    The Fraser of Allander Institute, on behalf of Citizens Advice Scotland, has published a study on the economic benefits of the Citizens Advice Service in Scotland.

    Spotlight:
  12. Publication date:
    October 2012

    Citizens Advice Bureaux in Scotland help hundreds of thousands of people with over half a million new issues each year. Snapshot uses evidence on these issues to act as an early warning system for government, service providers, and private sector companies, of where policies and practices are failing or inefficient. These monthly briefings use very recent evidence and are an excellent way of spotting trends to social policy and tracing the impact of recent policy changes.

    This edition is based on the advice needs of over 15,000 clients who approached bureaux for advice in August 2012. These clients were better off by nearly £7.9m as a result of the advice that they recieved.

  13. Keith Dryburgh
    Publication date:
    August 2012

     CAS' response to the Scottish Parliament in relation to the draft Scottish Budget 2013-14.

  14. Publication date:
    May 2012

    This briefing for MSPs outlines the importance of ensuring that the Scottish Government’s Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Bill provides the citizens of Scotland with access to passported benefits when current benefits are effectively abolished and replaced in 2013 by the new Universal Credit. 

  15. Keith Dryburgh and Matt Lancashire
    Publication date:
    January 2012

    A briefing to Scottish MPs on the seven amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill brought forward and passed by the House of Lords prior to the Westminster debate on the 1st February 2012. The briefing looks at the negative impact of the bill on the people, society and economy of Scotland, and discusses ways in which the proposed amendments would decrease these impacts.

  16. Keith Dryburgh and Matt Lancashire
    Publication date:
    October 2011

    CAS's submission to the Scottish Parliament Health & Sport Committee, which will be scrutinising the UK Welfare Reform Bill Legislative Consent Motion, gives detail on the impact of aspects of the bill to Scotland’s people, services and economy. In addition it sets out our arguments for the establishment of a Scottish Parliament Welfare and Benefits Committee and our position on the LCM.

  17. Keith Dryburgh
    Publication date:
    October 2011

    Submission from Citizens Advice Scotland to the Infrastructure & Capital Investment Committee: Scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s Spending Review 2011 and Draft Budget 2012-13

     

  18. Keith Dryburgh
    Publication date:
    October 2011

    Submission from Citizens Advice Scotland to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee Scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s Spending Review 2011 and Draft Budget 2012-13

  19. Matt Lancashire
    Publication date:
    October 2011

    Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants are to be devolved to Scotland. This response to the consultation advised Scottish Government how successor arrangements might operate in Scotland.

     

  20. Publication date:
    September 2011

    This briefing draws on the Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform (SCoWR) manifesto to set out five key principles for welfare reform agreed by our diverse membership. It calls on the House of Lords to ensure these principles underpin debate and decisions on the Welfare Reform Bill.

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