Topical questions on human trafficking, the link between professional footballers and brain disease and on overcrowding in Scottish prisons
A statement on safe use of fireworks
MSPs debate improvements to disability assistance
A Labour MSP leads a debate on new Asda staff contracts
Lucy O'Leary agrees with Adam Strachura about the limitations of digital by default, with many people in Scotland not having access to the internet.
Ms Kelly also says digital should only complement what's already there in terms of face to face support.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie reiterates concerns that Consumer Scotland may duplicate CAS's work.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Gillian Burgan says CAB is recognised by the public as somewhere they can go to for advice and escalating complaints.
Kristi Kelly says the name 'Consumer Scotland' could be confusing because people already know how CAS is, warning this could lead to people not following up on their issues because they do no know where to go.
Adam Stachura from Age Scotland says a large proportion of older people do not use the internet so there is a danger that the most vulnerable people do not even know how to get a phone number because that info will be on the website.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Image source, bbcGillian Burgan from Clackmannanshire Citizens Advice Bureau pivots to tackling scams, arguing its a massive area that needs to work on.
Citizens Advice Scotland has welcomed the announcement of new funding to help in the fight against scams, external, as a new partnership is unveiled today between the UK’s Citizens Advice network, Facebook and Money-saving expert, Martin Lewis.
A new, dedicated online scams service, funded by Facebook’s £3m donation following a legal settlement with Mr Lewis, will give specialist one-on-one help to people across the UK who are worried they’re being scammed, and those who have already lost money. It will also undertake scams prevention work to identify, tackle and raise awareness of online scams.
The Consumer Scotland Bill was announced in the programme for government in September 2018 and introduced in June 2019.
It will establish Consumer Scotland, external, a new consumer advocacy and advice body.
As a SPICe briefing highlights, "most consumer powers, including legislating for consumer rights and consumer enforcement, remain reserved to Westminster.
"This would limit Consumer Scotland's powers to compel people or organisations to act, but not its power to influence."
The committee will now hear from:
Image source, bbcCAS chair Rory Mair
Rory Mair says that CAS recognises the value of Consumer Scotland, but also recognises the threat it could bring to CAS too.
He explains there are new opportunities arising from Consumer Scotland, specifically on areas CAS does not and should no do.
But that does not assuage concerns about limits to CAS's resources, he adds.
Image source, CAS websiteCAS website
From the CAS website:, external
"Citizens Advice Scotland, the Extra Help Unit and our 59 member bureaux together form Scotland’s largest independent advice network.
"In 2018-19 the Citizens Advice Service network helped over 272,500 clients in Scotland and dealt with almost 744,000 advice issues within the UK. With support from the network clients gained over £134 million and our self-help website Advice in Scotland received approximately 3.7 million page views.
"Advice provided by our service is free, independent, confidential, impartial and available to everyone.
"We look at the problems people bring to our advice services and campaign for change where it’s needed most.
"We work for a fairer Scotland where people are empowered and their rights respected."
Mr Mair says 18 months ago CAS was told £1.5m was to be taken off it to form the basis of the funding of the new agency.
It has taken 18 months to get an assurance from the minister that this will not happen, he explains.
The CAS chair says the organisation should not have to waste its time to ensure it has the same resources going forward.
We are looking for some statutory basis to ensure the government cannot come along and take its funds, he adds.
Derek Mitchell explains that the fear of replication and duplication is not immediate, but there are concerns about this happening in the future.
There aren't infinite resources to provide advocacy so any new kid on the block must add value, he insists.
Anne Lavery explains the Citizen Advice Scotland is no longer listed as an advocate in statute due to the devolution of powers (but Citizens Advice remains a statutory body in England).
She says CAS would like to see these powers put back on the statute.
Mr Mitchell is supportive of a new body that does things in a more systematic way and puts consumers at the heart of the system.
He says the new body's top-down approach can meet CAS's bottom-up lived experience approach.
The danger is that CAS may be viewed as low-lying fruit in the future, he adds.
However the minister has said he respects, values and trusts what CAS does, Mr Mitchell says.
Jane Adams of COCABS warns that a reduction in funding for CAS will result in reduction in services bureaux can provide.
Image source, bbcLabour MSP Jackie Baillie
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asks what the anticipated impact of the Consumer Scotland Bill will be on CAS.
Rory Mair says that if the new agency does what the government says it will - research, big campaigns, dealing with complaints - then CAS welcomes that.
But we have a real worry about it actually doing what CAS already does, he adds.
Mr Mair says CAS has received some assurance that it will not do this, but we are still concerned that once the agency is formed it will begin to find a place in areas already covered by CAS.
Image source, bbcMr Mair says he supports the creation of Consumer Scotland, although he adds CAS does do research relating to consumer detriment already.
Derek Mitchell agrees Consumer Scotland could fill a potential gap, but points out people don't see themselves as consumers but as people.
Mr Mitchell points to campaigns on funeral costs and bus services emanating from people coming to CAS.
The Consumer Scotland Bill was announced in the programme for government in September 2018 and introduced in June 2019.
It will establish Consumer Scotland, external, a new consumer advocacy and advice body.
As a SPICe briefing highlights, "most consumer powers, including legislating for consumer rights and consumer enforcement, remain reserved to Westminster.
"This would limit Consumer Scotland's powers to compel people or organisations to act, but not its power to influence."
Convener Gordon Lindhurst asks what is already provided by CAS in terms of consumer advice.
No other agency provides more advice than we do, replies Rory Mair.
Our approach to consumer advocacy is one of lived-experience of citizens, he explains, meaning CAS advocates on issues that consumers bring to it.
Image source, bbcCommittee convener Gordon Lindhurst introduces:
Image source, GoogleThe economy committee kicks off the day with a session on the Consumer Scotland Bill, external beginning shortly.
The papers for today's meeting are available here, external.
While written responses on the bill have been published here, external.
Today the committee will hear from Citizens Advice Scotland, as well as bureau representatives.
Welcome to BBC Scotland's live coverage of the Scottish Parliament for Tuesday 29 October 2019.
The economy committee hears from Citizens Advice Scotland and bureaux representatives about the Consumer Scotland Bill.
The afternoon begins with topical questions on human trafficking, the link between professional footballers and brain disease and then on overcrowding in Scottish prisons.
Community Safety Minister Ash Denham will then make a statement on fireworks regulations.
Then MSPs will debate the future of disability assistance.
Finally, Labour MSP Pauline McNeill leads a member's debate on changes to Asda employment contracts.
Image source, Getty Images