Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the absence of in-person banking services in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) the United Kingdom on individuals with mental health conditions.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises that access to in‑person banking services can be particularly important for some customers, including blind and partially sighted people, individuals with learning disabilities, and those with mental health conditions.
The Government is committed to maintaining high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector, including in the Yeovil constituency, Somerset and the United Kingdom as a whole.
Where banks make commercial decisions to reduce their branch network, they are required by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to carefully consider the impact on customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, including the needs of vulnerable customers, and to put appropriate alternative arrangements in place.
The Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 270 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 225 are already open. Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, enabling people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services.
In addition, customers can access everyday banking services through the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check balances and pay bills at over 10,000 Post Office branches across the UK.
Some firms also provide additional in‑person access through services such as mobile banking vans or pop‑up locations in community venues, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Financial services provided by banks and building societies must comply with the FCA’s rules, which require firms to provide a prompt, efficient and fair service to all customers. The FCA’s Consumer Duty further requires firms to act in good faith, avoid foreseeable harm and support customers to pursue their financial objectives, including by ensuring that information and services are accessible. The FCA’s Handbook requires firms to identify particularly vulnerable customers, and to consider the needs of these customers appropriately. This includes blind and partially sighted people, individuals with learning disabilities, and those experiencing mental health difficulties.
Banks and building societies are also subject to the Equality Act 2010, which requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people can access services on an equal basis.
More broadly, the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy, published in November, sets out an ambitious programme of work to improve access to financial services for underserved groups across the UK. This includes a key focus on access to banking and digital inclusion, with interventions to make financial products and services more accessible, support in-person banking services, and make it easier for individuals to access a bank account.
The Government keeps the effectiveness of current arrangements under review through regular engagement with stakeholders to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the absence of in-person banking services in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) the United Kingdom on individuals with learning disabilities.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises that access to in‑person banking services can be particularly important for some customers, including blind and partially sighted people, individuals with learning disabilities, and those with mental health conditions.
The Government is committed to maintaining high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector, including in the Yeovil constituency, Somerset and the United Kingdom as a whole.
Where banks make commercial decisions to reduce their branch network, they are required by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to carefully consider the impact on customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, including the needs of vulnerable customers, and to put appropriate alternative arrangements in place.
The Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 270 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 225 are already open. Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, enabling people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services.
In addition, customers can access everyday banking services through the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check balances and pay bills at over 10,000 Post Office branches across the UK.
Some firms also provide additional in‑person access through services such as mobile banking vans or pop‑up locations in community venues, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Financial services provided by banks and building societies must comply with the FCA’s rules, which require firms to provide a prompt, efficient and fair service to all customers. The FCA’s Consumer Duty further requires firms to act in good faith, avoid foreseeable harm and support customers to pursue their financial objectives, including by ensuring that information and services are accessible. The FCA’s Handbook requires firms to identify particularly vulnerable customers, and to consider the needs of these customers appropriately. This includes blind and partially sighted people, individuals with learning disabilities, and those experiencing mental health difficulties.
Banks and building societies are also subject to the Equality Act 2010, which requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people can access services on an equal basis.
More broadly, the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy, published in November, sets out an ambitious programme of work to improve access to financial services for underserved groups across the UK. This includes a key focus on access to banking and digital inclusion, with interventions to make financial products and services more accessible, support in-person banking services, and make it easier for individuals to access a bank account.
The Government keeps the effectiveness of current arrangements under review through regular engagement with stakeholders to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a lack of in-person banking services in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) the United Kingdom on (i) blind and (ii) partially sighted people.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises that access to in‑person banking services can be particularly important for some customers, including blind and partially sighted people, individuals with learning disabilities, and those with mental health conditions.
The Government is committed to maintaining high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector, including in the Yeovil constituency, Somerset and the United Kingdom as a whole.
Where banks make commercial decisions to reduce their branch network, they are required by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to carefully consider the impact on customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, including the needs of vulnerable customers, and to put appropriate alternative arrangements in place.
The Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 270 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 225 are already open. Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, enabling people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services.
In addition, customers can access everyday banking services through the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check balances and pay bills at over 10,000 Post Office branches across the UK.
Some firms also provide additional in‑person access through services such as mobile banking vans or pop‑up locations in community venues, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Financial services provided by banks and building societies must comply with the FCA’s rules, which require firms to provide a prompt, efficient and fair service to all customers. The FCA’s Consumer Duty further requires firms to act in good faith, avoid foreseeable harm and support customers to pursue their financial objectives, including by ensuring that information and services are accessible. The FCA’s Handbook requires firms to identify particularly vulnerable customers, and to consider the needs of these customers appropriately. This includes blind and partially sighted people, individuals with learning disabilities, and those experiencing mental health difficulties.
Banks and building societies are also subject to the Equality Act 2010, which requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people can access services on an equal basis.
More broadly, the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy, published in November, sets out an ambitious programme of work to improve access to financial services for underserved groups across the UK. This includes a key focus on access to banking and digital inclusion, with interventions to make financial products and services more accessible, support in-person banking services, and make it easier for individuals to access a bank account.
The Government keeps the effectiveness of current arrangements under review through regular engagement with stakeholders to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2026 to Question 119636 on Shops: Rural Areas, what his planned timeline is for the publication of a new High Streets Strategy.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We will publish the High Streets Strategy later this year.
The Strategy will be backed by £301 million investment in High Street Innovation Partnerships to help reimagine and revive some of the country’s most struggling high streets. We will set out further information in due course
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps is he taking to strengthen protections for owners of shared ownership properties in Yeovil constituency from unaddressed instances of dangerous mould.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 101061 on 6 January 2026.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he is taking steps is to strengthen legal protections for those with shared ownership properties in Yeovil constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 101061 on 6 January 2026.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing additional funding for leadership and management apprenticeships in Yeovil constituency.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy. This will deliver greater flexibility to employers, more opportunities for young people and support the industrial strategy across the country, including in the Yeovil constituency.
Over the past decade we’ve seen apprenticeship starts by those aged 16-24 fall by 40%. This Government wants to reverse that decline and support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships.
We are therefore reviewing the existing apprenticeship offer, which has grown to more than 700 standards, an outlier by international standards, to ensure it better supports young people starting their careers.
From September 2026, we will withdraw funding from 16 existing apprenticeship standards. Three of these are generic leadership and management apprenticeships, which have grown significantly but are predominantly used as continuing professional development for established staff aged 25 and over. Nearly 90% of apprentices on these leadership and management standards were over 25 (compared to 50% across the programme as a whole); and 83% were long-term employees (compared to 43% across the programme as whole – which is a 10-year high).
These changes will create headroom to invest in opportunities for young people and new apprenticeship units and ensure more of our finite investment is targeted on national skills priorities.
Employers who value these apprenticeship standards can continue to use them on a privately funded basis.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to Skills Bootcamp funding on the ability of the scheme to adapt to market and employer needs in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 February 2026 to Question UIN 113868.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the new end of treatment summaries set out in the National Cancer Plan will include guaranteed information on the signs and symptoms of secondary breast cancer.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Cancer Plan, published on 4 February, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next 10 years, including end of treatment summaries.
Every cancer patient will receive a summary that will inform the ongoing care they receive from neighbourhood health services. As the summary will be co-produced between the patient can their clinical team, it will reflect the patient’s own understanding of their condition and their individual needs, including personalised information and advice on secondary cancer symptoms where relevant. End of treatment summaries will link back to the patient’s personal cancer care plan, and offer a rapid route back to hospital if they need it.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of producing a horticulture strategy.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to the horticulture sector and its role in providing fresh, home‑grown produce that helps feed the nation. The sector’s needs are being addressed through steps we are taking to support increased domestic production. Building on this work, the Secretary of State has announced the Farming & Food Partnership Board to oversee a series of sector growth plans, the first of which will focus on horticulture.
This approach is aimed at boosting productivity and profitability, reducing costs and opening new markets in ways that support health and environmental goals, with the first plan focused on the horticulture sector.