Public

This briefing focusses on a concerning aspect of the rise of the zero hours contract – the insecurity of working hours and income caused by workers being guaranteed no set amount of work, or even any hours at all in any given week. The human impact of the insecurity of income can be seen through the stories of CAB clients who have been forced to borrow from payday lenders and even resort to food banks because of significant variances in their pay from week to week. In this situation, budgeting can be impossible and the safety net of the benefits system inaccessible because of the unpredictable nature of their working hours.  We make a number of recommendations including a call for workers on a zero hours contract to be given a statutory ‘right to request’ a contract that guarantees hours, without fear of dismissal.

Citizens Advice Scotland welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Government’s consultation on changes to the Scottish Public drinking water quality regulations. It is anticipated that these changes will align the current legislative framework more closely with the EU’s Drinking Water Directive.

This report is one of the most detailed examinations of the impact of sanctions in Scotland so far. It provides an analysis of the current system, its impact on clients , real case evidence and the findings of a survey of Scottish CAB advisers. We also provide 16 recommendations that are needed to the current  system and why they are needed.

Citizens Advice Scotland welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Strategic Review of Charges 2015-21 Draft Determination. Citizens Advice Scotland supports increased customer engagement in the regulatory process to bring about better outcomes for customers.

We believe that the process laid out within the Draft Determination will strengthen the link between customer feedback and the service they receive.