Margo urges debt woes advice drive

INDEPENDENT Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald is urging the Scottish Government to launch a publicity drive for citizens advice bureaux and credit unions amid evidence of a growing problem of debt.

She said she was horrified to learn the Samaritans were reporting a 50 per cent rise in the number of people contacting them with debt problems.

She has written to Finance Secretary John Swinney proposing a marketing campaign for CABx and credit unions.

She said: “Preferably this would happen as soon as possible as debts are being piled up now and nothing in the economic indicators generates confidence that these household debts being incurred now will be reduced or eliminated because of an improvement in the economy.”

She also urged more financial support for CABx to help them cope with the extra work of helping people with debt issues.