Date: 09 June 2009 BROCKLEBANK VOICES CONCERNS ON FIFE DEBT LEVELS A new report from Citizens Advice Scotland has highlighted that personal debt is 50 per cent higher than it was in 2003, with individuals requesting help having an average of 6.3 different debts and £20,139 of total debts. These figures are particularly worrying for Fife as Citizens Advice and Rights Fife (CARF) has recently cut a specialist adviser from its staff due to the SNP/LibDem led Council administration being unwilling to increase funding.
Commenting, Ted Brocklebank, Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said;
“In light of this report, it is concerning that the SNP/LibDem led administration on Fife Council has recently refused an increase in funding to CARF. Rising staff costs have seen the loss of one specialist adviser at a time when I would expect additional staff to be recruited to help the large number of Fifers experiencing financial difficulties.
“The new report paints a very disturbing picture of the extent of current debt problems in Scotland. The average amount of debt of individuals seeking advice is £20,139, which is 50 per cent higher than it was five years ago. This is a huge increase and is even more worrying as many of those struggling with debt problems suffer a negative impact to their health.
“Gordon Brown’s recession shows no sign of abating and the demand for money advice is only expected to grow. Debt advice is also becoming more complex due to clients having a larger number of debts than in the past. It is expected that this will cause advice workers to have to work with smaller client caseloads and highlights the need for greater resources to address the growing demand for money advice.
“Over the past year CARF has managed to assist 1134 people in managing debts totalling £20 million, and the coming year will only see more people requiring assistance. In the wake of this report the SNP/LibDem administration in Fife must urgently reconsider their decision to allow a cut to the services offered by CARF.”
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