Publications
2008
Making markets work for Consumers in Scotland - everyone benefits
Consumer switching behaviour and attitudes in key markets
6 May 2008
(993 KB)
Many of Scotland's consumers are happy to switch providers across a range of household services with the aim of getting better deals on price and quality. However, key groups are still being left behind.
A full report can be found by clicking the above link, however a report including the research data can be found here (513 KB).
Written Evidence to the Scottish Broadcasting Commission
The SCC is clear that a thriving broadcasting and creative industry in Scotland is in the best interests of consumers and that a coherent strategy for the industry as a whole is long overdue. We believe that a stronger voice for consumers must be part of this strategy and that it will play a key role in delivering benefits to those who make programmes,those who watch them, and to the wider society.
3.14MB (large file)
2007
3 December 2007
(3.07 MB)
Response to the Ofcom Digital Dividend Review
The spectrum is a public resource, allocated through international agreements between states. We recognise Ofcom’s desire to make the best use of the released spectrum and the objectives of promoting innovation and a flexible approach to spectrum use that will allow for the development of services that will bring added value to consumers in the future. However, we believe that reliance, almost exclusively, on the market to deliver this will bring risks to some consumers and that it runs the risk of exacerbating rather than relieving the digital divide that still persists in Scotland.
79KB March 2007
Joint NCC, SCC and WCC response to Post Office Network consultation
8 March 2007
161KB
2005
Response to Ofcom review of the universal service obligation: statement and further consultation
The Scottish Consumer Council has issued a warning about proposals that could lead to the removal of public phone boxes from many parts of the country.
212KB
Freedom of Access: Research Report on Public Internet Access in Scotland
The report examines how far the policy commitments made by the UK government and the Scottish Executive to achieving universal access to the Internet, either at home or by using a public computer terminal, have become a reality for consumers in Scotland, with a particular focus on those who are disadvantaged. The research was undertaken in three phases with:
- local authorities — as they are key public sector providers of public access to the Internet, we asked local authorities to tell us about their current policies and also how they provided public Internet access services in their area;
- service users — we carried out a “mystery shopper” exercise, asking our volunteer network of consumers to use their local authority service and to tell us about their experiences in doing so;
- the wider public — we commissioned a quantitative survey of the general public to obtain demographic details on both access to the Internet and attitudes to using the Internet.
In addition to obtaining the current picture on access to the Internet, we also wanted to:
- highlight good practice in the provision of public Internet access services;
- identify any barriers that existed and how they could best be dismantled to ensure access for all.
The headline conclusion is that, while local authorities have done much to integrate Internet access into their mainstream service provision, much more needs to be done to promote awareness of these services, to target them to those most in need of them and to disadvantaged groups, and to evaluate service provision from the perspective of the service users.
The evidence is that the people most likely to be aware of and use public Internet access points, and to be confident in using online services, are those who already have it at home i.e. those who are better off in society.
The report makes a series of recommendations with the aim of providing a consumer-focused, practical agenda for policy-makers and service providers to work towards making universal access a reality rather than an aspiration. This includes a checklist for local authorities on how to ensure that public Internet services meet the needs of all groups in the community, and in particular those who are most disadvantaged.
907KB
June 2005 £12 by post. Summary of findings free by post.
A summary of this report can be downloaded here (158KB).
BBC
news and the Scottish Six – Scottish consumers view on value for money and the licence fee
The Scottish Consumer Council (SCC) wanted to know whether consumers
in Scotland felt that they were getting value for money
in return for their licence fee. We also wanted to know whether people
would support
or oppose BBC Scotland producing a Scottish Six O’clock News programme, which would cover Scottish, UK and International news.
42KB
March 2004 Free
by post
The Communications Bill - What Agenda for Scotland?
97KB
November 2002
Free by post
Reaching Out
The consumer perspective
on communications in Scotland
171KB
January 2002 ISBN 0-907067-79-4 £10.00
by post
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