Evidence journal

Published quarterly by Citizens Advice, our Evidence journal aims to highlight a range of current policy concerns of the Citizens Advice service. It details the CAB client evidence that drives our concerns and our ideas for solutions. Our policy interests are as broad in scope as the advice that bureaux give - consumer rights, debt and financial exclusion, access to justice, welfare benefits, employment, immigration, health and housing. Readers of Evidence will find all these issues covered and more.

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Evidence journal winter 2012

Last rites - Vicky Pearlman calls for a fundamental review of social fund funeral payments.

Light at the end of the tunnel? - Nick Waugh looks at recent developments in access to basic bank accounts.

Rotten apples - and what to do about them! - James Sandbach looks at the regulatory challenges facing the legal service and justice sector.

A little less conversation, a little more action please! - Anne Pardoe argues that struggling fuel poor households need action, not a new definition.

Give us our daily bread - Sue Royston looks at CAB evidence on food poverty.

Will a tougher sanctions regime help benefit claimants find work? - Katie Shaw examines whether the Government's new tougher sanctions regime will help or hinder people return to work.

Evidence journal autumn 2012

Preparing for universal credit - avoiding unintended consequences - Katie Lane considers the challenges that must be addressed to ensure the delivery of universal credit does not undermine it's policy objectives.

Penalty clause - Some of the seemingly modest employment law-related provisions in the Enterprise & Regulatory Reform Bill, currently working its way through Parliament, are proving surprisingly controversal with both employers and employment lawyers. Richard Dunstan suggests a solution for Ministers.

The disappearing right of appeal - James Sandbach and Vicky Pearlman look at changes to appeal rights and processes, focussing on changes in welfare benefits.

Re-housing homeless people - the importance of sustainility and affordability - Geoff Fimister argues that new Government guidance must ensure that rents are genuinely affordable - and this means looking at benefit limits.

Confused about calling costs? - 0800 and 0845 numbers are an important part of the communications landscape but their costs are often shrouded in confusion and controversy. Nick Waugh examines whether Ofcom's proposed reforms will help resolve the problems.

Debt management plans - will self-regulation work? - Helen McCarthy considers whether self-regulation of debt management plans will help put the consumer at the heart of the process.

Evidence journal summer 2012

The delayed benefit of European citizenship - Christie Silk looks at the problems experienced by European Economic Area (EEA) nationals when claiming child benefit and child tax credit.

Will the Consumer Rights Bill be right for consumers? - Susan Marks makes the case for improving consumer redress in the proposed Consumer Rights Bill.

Making vulnerable consumers a priority - Anne Pardoe outlines what Ofgem should do to protect and support vulnerable consumers in a competitive fuel market.

Uninsured: the problem financial inclusion forgot - Nick Waugh considers the lack of progress in insuring the uninsured.

Once more unto the breach: battling the bailiffs - James Sandbach asks whether the coalition Government's proposals for "tackling aggressive bailiffs" will provide adequate protection for vulnerable debtors.

All was false and hollow - In April 2010, largely in response to our reports Empty Justice (2004), Hollow victories (2005) and Justice denied (2008), the then Labour Government established the so-called ET & Acas Fast Track enforcement regime for unpaid employment tribunal awards and Acas settlements. But figures recently released by the Ministry of Justice show this all-too-rare 'policy win' to be, like all-too-many ET awards and settlements: something of a hollow victory. Richard Dunstan reports.

Evidence journal