To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much funding Citizens Advice Scotland has received from his Department in the last five financial years.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills provides funding to Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) – the umbrella organisation and membership body for the Citizens Advice Bureaux network in Scotland. Total funding to CAS over the past five financial years is set out in the table below.

Funding has increased substantially since 2011/12 to reflect the additional functions CAS has taken on as a result of the consumer landscape changes, including the joint delivery (with Citizens Advice England and Wales) of the Consumer Service helpline, education and advocacy on general consumer issues and as the advocate on behalf of consumers in the regulated energy and postal sectors.