News Archive

This page contains all the past news which has been on the Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau website.

13/04/07 - Gender equality duty for public authorities
The Equality Act 2006 amends the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, so that public authorities have a duty to promote gender equality and to eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment on grounds of sex. Until this date, it has only been up to individuals to show that they have been discriminated against. These changes put an additional responsibility on a public authority to promote gender equality. 'Public authority' has a wide definition and includes arts organisations, museums, TV companies, government departments, the police, the armed forces, governing bodies of schools and colleges maintained by local authorities, the NHS, and local authorities. In addition to the general duty, there are specific duties for public authorities in England, Wales and Scotland. There are also Codes of Practice for England and Wales, and for Scotland, about how duties must be met. More detailed information is available on the Equal Opportunities Commission website at www.eoc.org.uk.

13/04/07 - Consumer Credit Act 2006
Some provisions of the Consumer Credit Act 2006 come into force on 6 April. These are:- the extortionate credit provisions are replaced by a new, wider ‘unfair relationship’ test which will apply to all consumer credit agreements made on or after 6 April 2007. Agreements made before 6 April 2007 will continue to be covered by the extortionate credit provisions until 6 April 2008 the court will have discretion in considering whether a relationship between a debtor and creditor is unfair and will be able to award a variety of remedies, rather than simply declaring an agreement unenforceable no credit agreements will be automatically unforceable, but will instead be subject to the discretion of the court. the Financial Ombudsman Service will extend its jurisdiction to include all consumer credit businesses, which means all businesses which have a credit licence, including finance companies, credit brokers, companies offering debt adjustment and debt counselling, debt collectors and companies providing credit information and credit reference agencies.

07/02/07 - Reduced fares for young people
From 8 January 2007, young people are entitled to reduced fares on buses, trains and ferries in Scotland. This will only apply to young people aged 16 to 18 and to full-time volunteers up to the age of 25. Young people will be entitled to:- a third off single bus fares across Scotland a free Scottish Youth Rail Card, which cuts a third off all train fares two free return ferry journeys to the mainland each year (for young people who live on an island). Young people need to apply for a national entitlement card in order to access the scheme. Local authorities are responsible for dealing with the application process and arrangements will vary across Scotland. Application forms may be given out in schools, libraries or in local council offices. Young people should contact their local authority or alternatively they can phone the Young Scot InfoLine on 0808 801 0338 (open 12 noon to 8pm, Monday to Friday). More information is available on the Young Scot website at www.youngscot.org/smartcards/

07/02/07 - Flexible Working for carers of adults
From 6 April, employees who are carers of adult dependants will have the right to ask for flexible working, and to have that request considered seriously by their employer. Regulations now define who counts as a dependant of the carer, and how the new right interacts with the right to ask for flexible working as the parent of a child aged under 6 (under 18 if the child has a disability).

07/02/07 - St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday
The St Andrew’s Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007 came into force on 16 January. This makes St Andrew’s day, 30 November, a new bank holiday. However this does not mean that people will automatically get an extra day off work or school. It just adds another bank holiday to the list of bank holidays in Scotland. Each organisation and company is free to decide whether to take St Andrew’s day as a holiday. If they do so, this is likely to replace a holiday taken at another time of the year.

07/02/07 - Mobile Phones and Driving
From 27 February, the fixed penalty for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving includes the award of three penalty points and an increased fine of £60. The same changes are being made to the fixed penalty for not having proper control of a vehicle, which can be used when a driver has been distracted by using a hands-free mobile phone. If the police or the driver choose to take a case to court rather than use a fixed penalty notice, the maximum fine is £1,000 (£2,500 for drivers of vans, lorries, buses and coaches).

02/09/06 - Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau's Annual General Meeting
We will be holding our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 20 September 2006 at 7.00 p.m. in the Corporate Dining Room South Lanarkshire Council Offices Almada Street, Hamilton Speakers: - Anthony Horan Disability Legal Advice Project and Sally Torley Hamilton Women’s Aid

02/09/06 - Organ Donation
New laws about organ donation came into force on 1 September 2006. The Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 introduces a new system of authorisation for organ donation. It used to be the case that relatives of a person who died could prevent organ donation going ahead if they didn’t agree with donation. Now, if someone has authorised organ donation during their lifetime, their wishes will be respected after their death. Their relatives will not be asked to authorise the donation as the person’s wishes are enough. Authorisation includes carrying an organ donor card or being on the NHS organ donor register.

05/05/06 - New rules on age discrimination from October
From 1 October, it will be unlawful to discriminate against a worker on the grounds of age. Until now, there has been no UK legislation outlawing age discrimination, although a voluntary code has been in existence since 1999. The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 will make it unlawful to discriminate against a worker on the grounds of age. The regulations will cover all employers and all paid workers except members of the armed forces. It will prohibit direct and indirect age discrimination as well as harassment and victimisation because of age. The upper age limit for bringing a claim for unfair dismissal or redundancy will be removed. A national 'default' retirement age of 65 will be introduced, making compulsory retirement below this age illegal in most cases. Workers will also have the right to request to work beyond the age of 65 and employers will have a legal duty to consider any such request. The Regulations do not affect state retirement pensions or the National Minimum Wage age bands. However, the Regulations do remove current upper and lower age limits for claiming statutory sick pay, statutory maternity pay, statutory paternity pay and statutory adoption pay. Age discrimination claims will be heard by employment tribunals and the normal three-month time limit will apply. A tribunal will be able to award unlimited compensation.

05/05/06 - UK Passport Service - change of name
The United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) is now called the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). There is a new website for the IPS, which currently links to the existing UKPS website. The new IPS website, www.ips.gov.uk, will be fully operational in October.

05/05/06 - Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005
The new Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force on 24 April 2006. This Act significantly changes the registration and regulation of charities in Scotland. Instead of registering with HM Revenue and Customs, Scottish charities must register with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Scottish charities are required to file annual returns and accounts with OSCR. OSCR has a number of other regulatory functions. Both the OSCR and the SCVO websites are useful sources of information on setting up and running a charity.

05/05/06 - Free Hearing Check
RNID, the charity for deaf and hard of hearing people, is offering a five minute telephone hearing check on 0845 600 5555. The hearing check is part of a joint campaign with the TUC called Breaking the Sound Barrier, aimed at the 4 million people in the UK who could benefit from wearing a hearing aid. They are encouraging people to take the check in the hope that this will be the first step for many people in realising they may have a hearing loss and making the necessary adjustments. Calls to take the check are charged at local rate and cost a maximum of 3p per minute for a call from a BT landline. The hearing check itself is free. For more information on the causes of hearing loss and what can be done to counter it, visit www.breakingthesoundbarrier.org.uk.

05/05/06 - Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006
The new Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 came into force on 4 May 2006. This Act has brought in a number of changes to family law with the intention of making it more reflective of family life in Scotland today. For example:- prior to the Act coming into force, you could get divorced if you and your spouse had been separated for 2 years and you both consented to divorce. Now you can get divorced if you have been separated for 1 year and you both consent. prior to the Act coming into force, you could get divorced if you and your spouse had been separated for 5 years without the need for consent of the other spouse. This period of 5 years has now been reduced to 2 years. unmarried fathers will get parental rights and responsibilities (PRR) for their children if they register the birth of their children together with the mother after 4 May 2006. changes have been made to the law regarding cohabiting couples. If a couple split up, there are a number of legal safeguards about how property is divided between the couple. Cohabitants can also apply for domestic interdicts if they experience domestic violence.

16/12/05 - Child benefit and civil partnerships
Before the introduction of civil partnerships on 5 December 2005, a cohabiting same-sex couple was not treated as a couple in regard to a child benefit claim. This meant that both partners could claim the higher rate of child benefit for the eldest child, where two or more children were involved, as they would have been treated as two separate families. Now a cohabiting same-sex couple will be treated as one family and the higher rate will be paid only for the eldest child in the family. If both partners receive child benefit, they must tell HM Revenue and Customs so that it can decide who will get the higher rate for the eldest child.

13/12/05 - Work-focused Interviews for Benefit Claimants
There have been some changes to the requirement to attend work-focused interviews. These include: a claimant taking part in a work-focused interview will now usually have to create and discuss an action plan for employment a claimant receiving only carer's allowance or bereavement benefits will no longer have to take part in a work-focused interview a lone parent receiving income support whose youngest child is 14 or more will be expected to take part in a work-focused interview every 13 weeks.

13/12/05 - Disability discrimination
Major changes to the law on disability discrimination came into force on 5 December. It will no longer be necessary to prove that a mental illness is clinically well recognised. A progressive disease will be recognised as a disability even if it has not yet had an effect on day-to-day activities. The main diseases covered are HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis which will be recognised from the day of diagnosis.

13/12/05 - Civil partnerships and overpayment of benefits and tax credits
All same-sex couples will now be treated the same as opposite-sex couples when determining entitlement to welfare benefits and tax credits. A same-sex couple must claim as a couple rather than as two single people. Many people will therefore no longer be eligible and are likely to be worse off as a result. People who do not notify the relevant authority about their same-sex relationship by 5 December may have a recoverable overpayment. Tax credits legislation has been changed to make this clear for tax credit claimants. The fact that a claimant is now treated as part of a couple will be deemed to be a change of circumstance which will bring the current claim as a single person to an end. The couple must reclaim jointly within three months, otherwise there may be a penalty and a recoverable overpayment. There are new rules about the duty of people receiving housing benefit and council tax benefit to tell the local authority about their same-sex relationship. Both the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and local authorities expect people to report that they are part of a couple for benefit purposes and will recalculate their entitlement accordingly. If claimants could reasonably be expected to know their same-sex relationship could affect their benefit but do not tell the DWP or local authority, this may cause a recoverable overpayment. If claimants fail to give the DWP the information it requests, for example, if they are part of a couple, this may also cause a recoverable overpayment.

13/12/05 - Civil Partnerships
On 5 December, legislation introducing civil partnerships came into force. This provides rights and legal responsibilities for same-sex couples which place them largely in the same legal position as married couples. It also affects same-sex couples who have not registered their partnership, for example, in relation to welfare benefits and tax credits.

21/04/05 - Gap Year Students
Students on a gap year in 2005 and going to an English or Welsh university in 2006 will be charged only up to the maximum of the 2005 standard fees (£1,200). To qualify, students must receive an university offer by 1 August 2005. Students who later change their minds about where to study will not qualify. Further information on taking a gap year can be found in the December 2004 issue of a Department for Education and Skills (DfES) publication Student Finance Update and is also available from DfES helpline (tel: 01325 392822; e-mail: ssin.queries@dfes.gsi.gov.uk. (EWS) Copyright Citizens Advice - an operating name of The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux April 2005

21/04/05 - Civil Partnerships
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 comes into force on 5 December. Same-sex couples will be able to enter into a civil partnership by registering a formal commitment to one another. If they do this, they will have virtually identical rights and responsibilities to married couples. The Act includes measures in housing, welfare benefits, immigration, child support, pensions and family law. Copyright Citizens Advice - an operating name of The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux April 2005

21/04/05 - Employee rights to information and consultation
From 6 April, regulations give employees in organisations with at least 150 employees rights to be informed and, in some cases, consulted about a range of business matters. The organisation must carry on an economic activity (not necessarily for profit). Guidance on the new regulations is available from the Department of Trade and Industry and ACAS.

21/04/05 - Childcare - help from New Deal schemes
From 25 April, parents participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents and partners participating in the New Deal for Partners will be able to get help with some childcare. If they start a job of at least eight hours a week, they will be able to get a one-off payment for formal childcare in the week before starting the job. The payment will be made direct to the childcare provider. More information about the scheme should be available from the lone parent's New Deal personal adviser.

21/04/05 - Immigration Forms
The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) has just announced changes, including some substantial increases, to the fees for most immigration applications from 1 April. People sending out-of-date forms or incorrect fees are likely to have their applications rejected. This could mean their becoming overstayers subject to legal action. Applicants should check the Application forms section of the IND website at www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk to make sure they are using the latest form. Copyright Citizens Advice - an operating name of The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux April 2005.
IND Website

21/04/05 - Muslim Dress In Schools
A Muslim pupil has won a landmark ruling in the Court of Appeal that she was unlawfully excluded from school for wearing a form of Muslim dress called a jilbab. The Court agreed that, by banning her from school, the school had breached her human rights to education and to manifest her religious beliefs. The school had argued that the jilbab contravened its uniform policy, which had been agreed by the school governors and local Muslim organisations. The Court called on the Department for Education and Skills to issue guidance to schools on how to ensure their uniform policies comply with their human rights obligations to their pupils. Copyright Citizens Advice - an operating name of The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux April 2005.

06/09/04 - National Minimum Wage
On 1 October 2004 the hourly rates go up to:- Workers aged 22 or over £4.85 Workers aged between 18 and 21 £4.10 Workers aged 16 or 17 (new rate!) £3.00

06/09/04 - Winter Fuel Payments
Winter Fuel payments for people aged 60 or over on 26 September and who are ordinarily resident in the UK should be made by the end of the year. People who qualify should receive £200 or £100 depending on their circumstances. People aged 80 or over should receive an additional sum. For this year only there is also an additional payment of £100 for people aged 70 or over on 26 September. This payment was announced as help with council tax but it will be paid with the winter fuel payment. For more information see the Pension Service website.
Pension Service Website

18/08/04 - Annual Report and Accounts 2003/2004
Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau Annual Report and Accounts for the year 2003/2004 are now available on the website. The annual report includes information on the bureau's activities over the past year, along with informative articles by some of the advisers.
Hamilton CAB Annual Reports

18/08/04 - New In-Court Advice Service
The following Article appeared in the Hamilton Advertiser on 13/5/2004 announcing the new In-Court advice service from Hamilton CAB: New service means public can call in at court... for legal help Hamilton Citizens Advice bureau are to have a presence at the town’s Sheriff Court. Experienced advisor Frank Jarvis will provide guidance for people facing civil legal proceedings or considering Small Claims actions. The new service will launch on May 26 and has the promise of two years’ funding from the Scottish Executive. Similar in-court projects have already been launched by CAB in Airdrie and Aberdeen and another is about to begin in Dundee. All of them will run until April, 2006, when a full evaluation will take place. An in-court advice service launched in Edinburgh in 1997 was praised by sheriffs there for increasing levels or participation and understanding of court procedure and promotion a more level playing field in court. Hamilton CAB chairman Bill Thom said: “For more than 10 years we have been able to provide support for clients facing civil action but always felt we needed an advisor on the spot, in the court premises, to help people deal with any problems they may encounter when facing action for rent arrears and other debts or wanting to take out Small Claims actions against rogue traders. “By having a presence in the court building itself, we hope to be able to explain procedures to our clients and thus save court time, which can only be good for everyone.” Mr Jarvis (29), originally from Liverpool, graduated for Glasgow University with a degree in philosophy and has worked for CAB as a volunteer and paid employee. He will have an office in the area of the court where most civil cases are heard and believes much of this workload will comprise clients facing eviction for rent arrears and, to a lesser extent, anti-social behaviour. Mr Jarvis added: “Experience from other projects has shown that the vast majority of clients in these situations are unrepresented and don’t atten the hearings. “Our aim is to get people in these cases to participate in the process and where appropriate resist the evictions. “ Mr Jarvis said in emergencies and where permissible he would be prepared to provide representation himself but added: “The main thrust of the project is to explain to people the process and their rights and help them deal with the matter without it going to court, if that is possible, or best present their case in front of a sheriff.” Mr Jarvis said he did not envisage hostility from the legal profession and added: “For Small Claims, Legal Aid is not available so in those cases there would only be a small amount of work for a solicitor, and in other cases we are going to be referring to a solicitor people who otherwise might not seek legal representation.” Hamilton CAB manager Gill May said as the new service would add to their workload, they were seeking extra volunteers. Contact Gill either at their office at 67 Almada Street, Hamilton or by their website: www.hamiltoncitizensadvicebureau.org.uk To contact Frank Jarvis telephone Hamilton CAB, 01698 283477 or 01698 476853. CAB MAN ... Frank Jarvis who, from his office in Hamilton Sheriff Court, will help people mired in civil legal proceedings

12/12/03 - Job Vacancy: In-Court Adviser
Post funded until March 2006 Salary AP4:- 19,633 - £21,733 To improve Access to Justice we need an enthusiastic socially aware person with a clear understanding of legal procedures and CAB advice work, especially relating to debt and consumer issues to provide advice and assistance to those wishing to defend or raise civil action in the Hamilton Sheriff Court. Must be able to work under pressure.
Further Details and Application Form

29/09/03 - Fireworks Act (2003)
Local MP Bill Tynan has successfully ensured that legislation is now in place to promote opportunities for the responsible and safe use of fireworks. He said that the next stage in the process is to ensure that Government lays down draft regulations as soon as possible.

13/09/03 - National Minimum Wage Increases on 1st October

Type of NMW	Hourly rate of NMW From 1.10.03
Workers aged 22 and over entitled to standard rate of NMW	£4.50
Workers aged between 18 and 21 (inclusive)	£3.80
Workers aged 22 and over on the modified trainee rate	£3.80

13/09/03 - Driving Test Safety Check
From 1 September, as part of the practical part of their driving test, candidates will have to answer two questions on vehicle safety. This is part of a European Directive to ensure drivers throughout Europe know how to check the safety of their vehicles. The topic areas are tyres, brakes, fluids, lights, reflectors, direction indicators and horns. Examples of questions include how to check engine oil level and tyre tread depth.

13/09/03 - Winter Fuel Payments
2003/2004 winter fuel payments for most pensioner households stay at £200, the same as last year. However, people aged 80 or over will be eligible for an extra £100.

13/09/03 - Increase In Litter Fines
Littering is already an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Under this Act, local authorities have the power to issue notices to the offender allowing her/him to pay a fine rather than face conviction for the offence. From 1 July the fixed penalty fine for littering increased from £25 to £50. This now matches the level already in force in England and Wales.

17/06/03 - Annual General Meeting
Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau will be holding its AGM at 7:00pm on Wednesday 25th June 2003 in the: Corporate Dining Room, South Lanarkshire Council Offices, Almada Street Hamilton Speaker:- Mary McGuire - Hamilton Credit Union All are welcome to attend.

17/06/03 - MBE for Fiona Dodds, an Adviser at Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau
Fiona Dodds, one of Hamilton CAB’s Voluntary Advisers for the past 15 years, is to receive an MBE from the Queen for her ongoing work to tackle homelessness at a local and national level. Fiona’s reaction was a very modest, “I feel very honoured, but, why me?” but Hamilton CAB’s Chairman, Bill Thom, was delighted when he heard the news and told the Advertiser, “Fiona's contribution is exceptional and her hard work definitely deserves this special honour. I am very proud of the work that we do at Hamilton CAB, and I feel that this recognition of Fiona’s dedication to helping others, is also an honour for the whole Bureau.” Bill went on to say, “Fiona is a voluntary Adviser with Hamilton CAB and has been with us since June 1988. She was previously a Secondary School teacher and has an Honours degree in Mathematics so is ideally suited to helping clients sort out their budgets. Fiona was widowed at a young age and left alone to bring up her son who is now in his twenties. She spends a great deal of her time carrying out voluntary work to help those in need. She is a very competent CAB Adviser and tutor specialising in Debt Cases and Benefits Training. To try and prevent homelessness, Fiona regularly negotiates with the local authority and other local landlords to arrange time to pay to clear rent arrears. Fiona has also developed a great deal of expertise in lay representation in the Sheriff Court and regularly helps clients with legal problems. Fiona will often attend the Sheriff Court with clients if necessary. She also regularly negotiates repayments of mortgage arrears, and other debts. Fiona is a past Chairman of the Scottish Sheriff Court Users Group, and was also actively involved in setting up the local Rent deposit Scheme to help homeless people secure rented accommodation when they cannot afford the deposit demanded by landlords. Fiona is also a staff representative on the CAB’s Management Committee, and she represents Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau on the Citizens Advice Scotland Legal Services committee. CAB Manager, Gill May was also very excited by the news saying, “Fiona works tirelessly to encourage awareness of homelessness issues through the CAB, through her church and through the Townswomen's Guild and always appears to be dashing off to one meeting or another. Fiona is very modest about her achievements so I’m really pleased that that she has been honoured in this way. She is typical of the wonderful team of voluntary staff that we have working at Hamilton CAB, and of the professional way that they cope with the high demands on our service.”

16/05/03 - Tax Credits - Emergency Giros
Claimants who are entitled to weekly payments but have not received them can get an emergency giro payment from their local tax office in the following circumstances: - where they can reasonably show that they are entitled to a tax credit payment (this does not require them to have an award letter. Details about pay and/or children may help - where they can show that their weekly payment is late. The Inland Revenue states that these emergency giros are for those in desperate need. Claimants need to take their latest P60, 2 proofs of identity - one with their signature on it, another with their address ( from somebody other than the Inland Revenue), and a utility bill.

16/05/03 - Tax Credits - Free School Lunch Entitlement Arrangements from 6 April 2003
Some tax credits claimants will lose their entitlement to their children's free school lunch entitlement under the new rules. New legislation is planned but in the meantime Scottish Ministers have asked education authorities to ensure that the children of families who receive Child Tax Credit and who have an annual income (as assessed by the Inland Revenue) of below £13,230 are entitled to receive free school meals.

12/05/03 - Armed Forces-Free Postal Service
From 17 April, friends and families of service personnel in the Gulf will be able to send them letters and packets weighing up to 2kg free of charge. This is in addition to airmail letters and e-mails which are already sent free of charge. Packets must be addressed to named individuals with full unit details and a British Forces Post Office (BFPO) address. Packets will be accepted by post offices and then forwarded by the BFPO. People who wish to support the armed forces can leave messages on the British Forces Bulletin Board website or contribute to the United Kingdom Forces Gulf Fund (tel: 0800 107 0200 or via the Fund's website. (EWS&NI)

09/04/03 - THE EMPLOYMENT ACT 2002
Changes coming into force on 6 April 2003 From 6 April 2003 Parts 1 and 4 of the Employment Act 2002 are coming into force and will bring in the following:

• The right to request flexible working;
• Paternity leave;
• Adoption leave; and
• Lengthier periods of maternity leave.

25/03/03 - Children's Tax Credit
Children's Tax Credit is discontinued from 6 April 2003, when it will be replaced by Child Tax Credit. For people who have not claimed Children's Tax Credit for the 2 years of its existence, they can still claim from the Inland Revenue by sending in their P60's For further information go direct to the Children's Tax Credit website or ring the helpline at 0845 3001036.
Children's Tax Credit Website

07/02/03 - Government Commends CAB on Work In Community
At Scottish Question time at Westminster on Tuesday this week Mr David Marshall questioned the Secretary of State for Scotland on the role of the CAB: "14. Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement about her recent discussions with Citizens Advice Scotland about its work. [94199] Mrs. McGuire: I met Citizens Advice Scotland yesterday. The Government greatly values the work they and individual Citizens Advice Bureaux carry out in major areas such as debt, welfare rights and employment."

05/02/03 - Mortgage to Rent Scheme
Are you in serious debt with mortgage arrears? Have you been through a debt assessment? Is your home in imminent danger of being repossessed? Do you need to stay in the area? Would your house sell for less than the average price of houses in the area? Does your home need less than £6,000 spending on it for repairs? Do you have less than £8,000 (£12,000 for over 60's) in savings? If your answer is YES to all of these questions then the new Mortgage to Rent scheme run by Communities Scotland may provide the help that you need. Contact Hamilton CAB for further information.

05/02/03 - Tax Credits Act 2002
The Tax Credits Act 2002 comes into force in April 2003 This Act provides for two new tax credits: the child tax credit for families with children, and the working tax credit for working households with a low income, including households in which a worker has a disability. They will be administered by the Inland Revenue, and responsibility for child benefit and guardians allowance will be transferred to the Inland Revenue. The following existing systems of support will be abolished on the introduction of the new tax credits: children's tax credit, working families' tax credit, disabled person's tax credit, the child-related elements of income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance, the various increases paid in respect of dependent children in certain non-means tested benefits, and the employment credit element of the New Deal 50plus scheme. Call into Hamilton CAB for any further information on these issues

05/02/03 - Employment Act 2002
The Employment Act 2002 comes into force in April 2003

This Act includes the following changes:-
• six months paid, and a further six months unpaid, statutory maternity leave for working mothers
• statutory maternity pay (SMP) will be increased to £100 per week, payable for 26 weeks
• two weeks paid statutory paternity leave for working fathers
• six months paid and a further six months unpaid leave for adoptive parents
• employers will be reimbursed for most of these leave payments by the government

10/11/02 - CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Service plays a vital role, states Government review
SCOTLAND’S Citizens Advice Bureaux make a ‘significant and positive contribution’ to individuals and communities, Consumer Minister MELANIE JOHNSON told MPs on Thursday, 31 October. Her announcement in the Commons followed publication of a five-yearly review of the network of Scotland’s 63 CABx, which includes Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau, and their umbrella body Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS). Citizens Advice Bureaux are the country’s leading providers of free, independent advice. Last year, bureaux in Scotland dealt with over 405,000 new queries alone, with consumer debt now the single biggest issue that worried Scots seek advice on. The review, undertaken by independent consultants Blake Stevenson, focused on the CAB Service’s impact on individuals and communities and the efficiency with which it operates. Endorsing the review’s findings, MELANIE JOHNSON said: “The Citizens Advice Bureau Service in Scotland plays a vital role in helping consumers understand their rights and obtain redress when there has been a problem. "Our review finds that Citizens Advice Scotland provides significant value for money for the public funds it receives, and makes a very important contribution to individuals and communities, as well as to policy formulation and service delivery. “CAS and the Department for Trade & Industry will be taking forward the recommendations with a view to further strengthening the contribution which CAS and the CABx make to communities in Scotland and to the delivery of services at both local and national level.” Welcoming the review’s findings, Gill May, Manager of Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau said: “This is a very positive endorsement of the CAB Service in Scotland and the work that we do in Hamilton CAB, and comes at the end of an absolutely landmark year for us. “In the past year, we have introduced a new membership scheme that will enhance even further the quality of the advice we give, and invested significantly in IT. With our information system now on one portable CD-ROM disk, we can take advice anywhere a laptop computer can go. “And good advice pays. Last year, bureaux in Scotland dealt with personal debt totalling £70m. They also won £5m for clients in additional income, often from benefits or other entitlements they didn’t even know about. That’s money retained in often impoverished local economies.” Ninety per cent of CAB staff are fully trained volunteers, and CAS estimates that for every pound a bureaux gets in funding support it can return up to seven to local economies through advice and representation. Noting that most bureaux rely on local authorities for funding, the review concluded: “The future of the service is dependent on getting the longer-term funding of CABx resolved - certainly that is the single most important single issue for most individual bureaux.” Bill Thom, Chairman of Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau said that he is grateful for the grant provided by South Lanarkshire Council but agreed that long term funding is a very important concern for his Management Committee as they worry about how to obtain sufficient core funds to continue to run the service Anyone wishing to volunteer their time to work in Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau should contact Gill May at 67, Almada Street, Hamilton ML3 0HQ, tel 01698 283477. or via the CAB’s Website on www.hamiltoncitizensadvicebureau.org.uk

10/11/02 - Registration of personal records held on computer
If you are going to be holding personal information on computer as part of your business then you may need to register under the Data Protection Act 1998. To get information about whether or not you need to register your business and what this involves contact:- The Office of the Information Commissioner Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF Tel: 01625 545745 Fax 01625 524510 E-mail: mail@dataprotection.gov.uk Website: http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk WARNING : We advise you to ensure that you deal directly with The Office of the Information Commissioner. It is not necessary for you to pay a fee to any other agency for accessing this service on your behalf.
Office of the Information Commissioner

10/11/02 - Tax Credits
From 6 April 2003, new tax credits are being introduced. Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit will replace working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit and Children's Tax Credit. The new Tax credits will be based on gross annual income. Capital will not be taken into account. For a claim for the new tax credits to start from 6 April 2003, the form must be completed and returned to the Inland Revenue by 31 January 2003. For further information and a claim pack contact Hamilton CAB or ring the Inland Revenue Helpline 0845 300 3900.

18/10/02 - Employment Legislation
New Fixed-term contract regulations came into force on 1 October. Their purpose is to ensure that employees on fixed-term contracts have the same rights and benefits as permanent employees. The regulations give employees the right to complain if they believe that they are being treated unfairly. For further information contact Hamilton CAB or ACAS.
ACAS

18/10/02 - Disability Discrimination Act 1995
comes into force: 1 October 2004 New duties under the goods, facilities and services provisions of Part III of the Act will apply to businesses and to other providers of services to the public where physical features make access to their services impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people. The Disability Rights Commission has published a new Code of Practice.

27/08/02 - 'J. Stepek' in Administration
Sadly local firm J. Stepek is now in Administration. On 10 July 2002, J.B. Cartwright and Edward Klempka were appointed Joint Administrators of J.Stepek Ltd. Bothwell Road, Hamilton. Their address for any enquiries is PricewaterhouseCoopers, Erskine House, 68-73 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 4NH Contact tel:- 0131 524 2208

19/04/02 - Launch of Hamilton Citizen's Advice Bureau Website
On Friday 19 April Hamilton South MP, Bill Tynan, officially launched Hamilton Citizen's Advice Bureau's new Website. CAB's Chairman, Bill Thom said, “This is a very special day for us as it means that we have now officially moved into the electronic age. People with access to computers will be able to contact us when it is convenient to them and we will be available to help clients with their enquiries via our website.” The website has been produced by local computer wiz, David Gowans. David is 16 years old and attends Hamilton College. His mother, Hazel is a CAB volunteer and when she told him that the CAB needed a website, David was quick to volunteer his services. David said: “I enjoy using the computer and playing computer games. I run several websites and was happy to help out my local CAB”. David has plans to go further with his work on computers and hopes to apply for a computing science degree next year. Voluntary Adviser, Allan Mitchell, will be looking after the Website and will ensure all enquiries are answered as soon as possible. Allan is also a computer buff and has been working closely with David to ensure that Hamilton CAB has a website to be proud of. The local Hamilton South MP was delighted to be able to support the launch of CAB's website. Bill said: “The Internet plays an incredibly important role in today's society. Organisations need to take advantage of this electronic tool and CAB has taken an important step in this direction. A large number of constituents contact me via my own website and email address and, from experience, I know how valuable this form of communication is. It is the main mode of contact for many people, particularly the younger generation. I would like to congratulate Hamilton CAB on their launch and commend David Gowans for making such a valuable voluntary contribution, whilst gaining experience in advance of a potential career in computing science.” For those wishing to try out the website the address is www.hamiltoncitizensadvicebureau.org.uk. Visitors who don't have access to a pc are, of course, encouraged to call in personally to CAB at 67 Almada Street. The opening times are: - Monday, Tuesday and Friday 10.00-3.30, Wednesday 10.00 - 12.30 and Thursday 10.00 - 6.30. New volunteers are always welcome. Local MP Bill Tynan, Web Designer David Gowans and CAB Chairman Bill Thom launch the website