Debt Action Forum (DAF)

Statement of Commitment

Scottish Ministers are keen to gather evidence, build consensus and recommend measures (legislative and non-legislative) to relieve debt problems for the people of Scotland. In order to deliver this a cross section of stakeholders and academics will be brought together to develop proposals for action on debt. They will create a coherent debt package which will command support from outside the Parliament.

Background

Scotland has made progress in recent years in modernising its debt laws, changing attitudes to debtors, and widening access to advice. But it is clear that further measures are required, especially to ensure that home repossessions are acts of last resort. The credit crunch and recession has increased the profile of debt in Scotland and raised concerns about what measures are going to be taken to address debt problems.

Personal debt issues cut across society, effecting the employment, housing, family life, health and well-being of people in a range of income groups. There is also a large group of stakeholders, from the advice sector to the banks, that have differing views and methods for dealing with debtors and debts. To succeed, measures proposed by the Forum must address these issues, be coherent, and attract consensus, especially where legislative measures are proposed. At the same time the Forum must avoid the risk of a piecemeal approach resulting in duplication, unintended consequences and lack of co-ordination, and of raising unrealistic expectations for investment and/or legislation.