Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Danielle Rowley and Rosie Cooper

Wednesday 17th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Danielle Rowley (Midlothian) (Lab)]

2. What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) on the potential effect on local communities of the proposed closure of RBS branches in Scotland.

[Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab)]

11. What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) on the potential effect on local communities of the proposed closure of RBS branches in Scotland.

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

With permission, I will answer Questions 2 and 11 together. Our position on branch closures is clear. These should be commercial decisions, not those for the interference of politicians, but equally, we do recognise some of the difficulties that constituents face when this occurs. That is why we support the access to banking standard, which takes a number of steps both to support and to inform customers in that situation.