Debt Action Forum – Third Meeting

In January 2009, Community safety Minister, Fergus Ewing announced that a Debt Action Forum would be set up to ensure that the Scottish Government is doing everything in its power to help those in Scotland struggling with personal debt.

The group met for the third time on 04 March 2009, and discussed various issues, including a proposal for a new type of Trust Deed, and lack of access to bank accounts for bankrupts, and the associated problems.

Repossessions Working Group

The Repossessions Group, a sub-group of the Debt Action Forum which is considering measures to alleviate personal debt problems also met this day.

Repossessions in the UK rose to 40,000 in 2008 from 26,200 in 2007 and are forecast to reach 75,000 in 2009. (There are no separate Scottish figures available.) In the light of this increase, the Scottish Government established a Repossessions Group to consider how homeowners can be best protected in light of the economic downturn.

Membership of the Repossessions Working Group includes representatives of the legal system, lenders (including the Council of Mortgage Lenders), advice agencies, and consumer interests. It is independently chaired by advocate, Adrian Stalker.

The full minutes of both meeting are available.

Debt Action Forum Meeting Minutes for 04 March 2009

Debt Action Forum Sub Group Meeting Minutes for 04 March 2009 (Repossessions Working Group).