Money Advice Scotland Conference

Money Advice Scotland (MAS) celebrate their 21st birthday Conference today at Crieff Hydro, with keynote speeches from Fergus Ewing MSP, the Minister for Community Safety and Rosemary Winter-Scott, The Accountant in Bankruptcy.

With this year's focus firmly on the impending changes to debt law in Scotland and the future of Trust Deeds in Scotland, the conference will provide an ideal platform for debating the impacts, benefits and future landscape of debt relief and management.

This annual two day conference brings together a broad range of people from the free money advice sector, insolvency, law, government, banking and credit industries.

Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing said:

"This conference provides a welcome opportunity to bring together all of the industry partners to discuss the issues around money advising and debt.

"I am looking forward to outlining how provisions in the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Act - such as strengthening protection for home owners at risk of repossession - can help those who are facing financial problems. Unfortunately, in the current economic climate, that is a situation which many families are finding themselves in. But there is help available.

"The Scottish Government has been working closely with stakeholders in the advice sector to identify issues, gaps in legislation and processes that could be improved. By bringing all partners together, this conference provides another opportunity to strengthen that relationship - but more importantly to improve the support available to those who find themselves in debt."

Rosemary Winter-Scott, The Accountant in Bankruptcy and Agency Chief Executive of AiB said :

"I am delighted by the opportunity to speak at the MAS conference this year and look forward to engaging in what I believe will be productive debate with colleagues across the debt services industry.

"Where AiB's mission is to ensure access to fair and just processes of debt relief and debt management for the people of Scotland, which takes account of the rights and interests of those involved, events like this further highlight the valuable role that we all have to play in fulfilling this aim in partnership.

"I hope that this year will be pivotal in how we as an industry come together to ensure that key steps to change, made with legislative support, can make a difference where it is needed most."

The conference will hear from other keynote speakers from the banking and credit reference industries, and include contributions from Pamela Cornes, Barclays Group, and Charlotte Hogg from Experian. Their views will be contrasted with those of the Lending Standards Board. Robert Skinner the Chief Executive, will outline the regime for banks and where the new Code fits in with current practice. Finally, conference will hear from Natalie Ceeney CBE., the Chief Ombudsman and Chief Executive of the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Yvonne MacDermid, MAS Chief Executive commented.

"This is a vitally important conference which will discuss and address some of the real issues experienced by people in debt. We have brought together a very wide range of people with experiences in advice giving, delivering insolvency solutions and from the credit granting and debt collection industries.

"We are delighted to have such a prestigious line up of speakers, whom will add to this very important debate.

"As this is our 21st birthday we want to ensure that as many people as possible have something to celebrate when it comes to dealing with their debt situations, and perhaps sleeping at night for the first time"

Further information on the conference can be found at http://www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk/conference/