This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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One million more for money advice
13/06/2002
New funding of £1 million for the provision of money
advice was announced today at the Money Advice Scotland
annual conference in Edinburgh.
Deputy Social Justice Minister Hugh Henry said it would
make it possible for more people to get advice on debt or
money worries which is a key part of new legislation
currently going through Parliament to replace poinding and
warrant sales in Scotland.
Agencies like
Citizens Advice
Bureau and local authority advisers help people manage
their debt and, as a result, prevent court action, he
added.
The new funding - consisting of £500,000 for each of the
next two years - will ensure that advice workers share good
practice and common standards in the quality of money and
debt advice they provide. It will also enable
Money
Advice Scotland and
Citizens Advice
Scotland to introduce a consistent training framework
for debt advisers throughout the country.
Mr Henry said:
"This £1 million investment emphasises the Executive's
commitment to ensure that information, advice and help is
available to people struggling with debt and other
financial problems.
"The funding will drive money advice forward. It will
ensure that high quality money advice, given by well
trained advisers, is accessible to everyone in Scotland.
This funding complements the three million we invested
earlier this year to make sure there will be enough money
advisers to help people with financial concerns.
"Too many Scots do not have the basic financial services
like a bank account or access to affordable credit that the
rest of us enjoy. Tackling financial exclusion, closing
this gap, is a top priority.
"We want to help families and individuals with money
problems find a way out of difficulty without sinking
further into debt and without the need to go to court."
Kaliani Lyle, Chief Executive of
Citizens Advice
Scotland, said:
"Increasing the support services available to money
advisers will help to ensure that Scottish citizens have
access to the best possible advice and assistance with debt
problems through Citizens Advice Bureaux and other agencies
offering free, independent and impartial advice. CAS and
MAS will work together to improve the quality and
effectiveness of these services to really make a
difference."
Yvonne Gallacher,
Money
Advice Scotland's Chief Executive, added:
"We really welcome this commitment from the Scottish
Executive, which will enable Money Advice Scotland to work
in partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland in order to
deliver well funded support services, which in turn will
produce high quality free money advice, for those who need
it most."
The Debt Arrangements and Attachments Bill was laid
before the Scottish Parliament in May 2002. This Bill
provides a humane and workable alternative to Poinding and
Warrant Sales. Under a new strategy for dealing with debt,
money advice will take on even greater importance as a
gateway for drawing up debt arrangement schemes.
The Executive has also launched the National Debtline
telephone advice service. A local pilot is currently taking
place in Fife. The public can access free money advice by
calling
0808 808 4000.