Scotland, Wales and NI news in 2023
13 stories, newest first.
- November 2023
Consumer Scotland publishes briefing on winter energy bill support options
Consumer Scotland has published a briefing on delivering household energy bill support this winter, setting out options for the Chancellor to consider at the Autumn Statement.
Welsh council leaders commit to accredited enforcement firms only
All council leaders in Wales have committed to using only accredited enforcement firms to collect Council Tax, making Wales the first UK nation to do so, according to the Welsh Government.
- October 2023
Council tax in Scotland frozen until April 2025
First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced that council tax in Scotland will be frozen at current levels until April 2025, keeping rates unchanged for around 2.5 million households in 2024-25.
- August 2023
Consumer Council research finds Northern Ireland lost 27% of bank branches in under three years
The Consumer Council has found that Northern Ireland lost 27% of its bank branch network in under three years, with vulnerable consumers and rural areas most affected.
- June 2023
Words in regulation 7(1) substituted by the Social Security, Universal Credit and State Pension (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023
Northern Ireland regulations substituted wording in regulation 7(1) of the 2016 Universal Credit transitional rules with effect from 29 June 2023, alongside matching changes to claims and payments rules.
Access to Banking Services in Northern Ireland published by CCNI
The Consumer Council Northern Ireland published an analysis of bank closures across Northern Ireland from 2020 to early 2023, showing 21% of consumers had seen their local bank close.
Law Centre NI publishes Cost of Living Support Payments 2023-2024 poster
The Law Centre NI has published a poster setting out the amounts, qualifying benefits and dates for the 2023-2024 cost of living support payments, including three means-tested payments and a pensioner payment.
- April 2023
Most Scottish councils raise council tax bills by at least 5% for 2023-24
Most Scottish councils raised council tax by at least 5% for 2023-24, with Orkney Islands up 10%, and ministers have proposed letting councils double bills on second homes from April 2024.
- March 2023
Welsh Government publishes evaluation of removing imprisonment sanction for Council Tax non-payment in Wales
Welsh Government research published on 8 March 2023 finds higher Council Tax collection rates in Wales than England and Scotland after the imprisonment sanction for non-payment was removed.
- February 2023
Low Income Winter Heating Assistance payments begin in Scotland
Scotland has begun paying the new Low Income Winter Heating Assistance benefit, one of a series of benefit changes scheduled across the UK during 2023.
- January 2023
Scottish Government publishes summary of responses to statutory debt solutions and diligence policy review consultation
The Scottish Government has published responses to its review of statutory debt solutions and diligence, showing majority support for most proposals but weaker backing for the Standard Financial Statement and full surplus income in bankruptcy.
£600 energy support payments to begin for Northern Ireland households in January 2023
Northern Ireland households will start receiving a one-off £600 energy support payment in January 2023, combining £400 under the Energy Bills Support Scheme NI and £200 under the Alternative Fuel Payment.
Consumer Council publishes Access to Banking research
The Consumer Council's Access to Banking Services research found 52 Northern Ireland bank branches closed between May 2020 and January 2023, 27% of the network, figures later cited by a Stormont committee.