Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Angela Crawley and Mel Stride

Wednesday 20th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Angela Crawley (Lanark and Hamilton East) (SNP)]

10. What recent discussions he has had with representatives of Santander on that bank’s proposed branch closures in Scotland.

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mel Stride)]

Bank branch closures are commercial decisions; they are not for the Government. However, we do recognise the difficulties that they bring. That is why we are committed, among other measures, to banking facilities within a Post Office network—[Interruption.]

[Mel Stride]

Thank you very much indeed, Mr Speaker. I was concluding by saying that we are fully committed to the 11,500 post offices up and down the United Kingdom, most of which provide banking services.

[Angela Crawley]

Santander will be closing 15 branches across Scotland, including in Lanark in my constituency. People and businesses across Clydesdale depend on this service, which cannot be delivered by post offices. Will the Secretary of State call a halt to these closures?

[Mel Stride]

As I have already outlined, these are commercial decisions to be taken by Santander and other banks. We have supported the access to banking protocol, which sets out clear measures that banks must take when they do close branches, to ensure that local customers are supported.