This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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CABs in Inverness and Nairn
27/09/2002
Deputy Finance and Public Services Minister Peter
Peacock today visited two citizens advice pilot projects in
Inverness and Nairn.
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) and Nairn Citizens Advice
Bureau (CAB) aim to deliver modern, accessible and
citizen-focused services to the benefit of their local
communities.
This has been facilitated by initiatives including a new
electronic information system which is being phased in to
all Bureaux, and a dedicated website meeting public need
for direct access to information and advice.
Nairn CAB is also one of nine CABs taking part in a CAS
project which aims to improve access to justice by creating
a "community legal service", providing legal information,
advice and help for people in the local area, including
rural areas.
At Nairn Mr Peacock, a former CAB employee, said:
"Citizens Advice Scotland is to be congratulated for the
range of modern and innovative initiatives which are
opening up access to their services.
"Since the project's launch in March this year, CAB has
put in place measures which have a gone a long way to
providing more flexible, high-quality information and
advisory service for customers.
"They are modernising rapidly using the benefits of
modern technology to widen and improve access to their core
services.
Highland Council funds six CABx in its catchment area.
Nairn CAB is part-time, opening from 10.00-13.00 with an
afternoon and evening session added on a Thursday.
The Executive is committing £500,000 per annum to
central support for money advice, subject to future
spending reviews. The Executive has made an additional
annual investment of £3million available for local money
advice provision. The objective is to provide advice at an
early stage for those in debt.