Citizens Advice calls for funding for expat service

By Tuesday this week almost 7,000 had backed the call

CHARITY Citizens Advice Spain is calling for the British government to fund advice services for UK citizens living in Spain.

By Tuesday of this week almost 7,000 people had backed the call – 10,000 signatures on the electronic parliament petition site means the government must respond.

If the petition can attract 100,000 supporters by March 20, the issue must be considered for debate in the Palace of Westminster.

And the charity looks for official financial backing as an association ready to advise and guide British nationals living in Spain. It also has a website, www.citizensadvice. org.es.

The details of the petition are: “Citizens Advice Spain is the first stop for thousands of UK nationals who contact us daily for advice, assistance, information, and guidance. We inform so that the community understands its obligations and rights. We use laws and regulations to assist residents, holiday homeowners and on relocation.

“This well-known registered charity was founded in 2014. The bureau advisers are regularly asked to appear on radio shows. Team members also host talks for associations, hold seminars and legal clinics.

“Other organisations, including the British consulates in various regions of Spain, forward UK nationals to us for our expertise.

“Two of the advisers are registered paralegals and are able to respond to daily questions via the website, emails, phones and legal clinics.”