Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Hanson of Flint Excerpts
Tuesday 31st January 2017

(7 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Margot James Portrait Margot James
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The British Business Bank has created the business finance guide, which is widely distributed and offers comprehensive information about the financing options available to businesses, including alternative sources of finance. The Financial Conduct Authority regulates peer-to-peer lending platforms and is currently reviewing its regulatory regime to ensure that it is robust and up to date.

Lord Hanson of Flint Portrait Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)
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What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of bank closures in town centres on the availability of business finance, to ensure that those such as my local one in Holywell, which is potentially losing three banks this year, will still have access to business finance and will still be positive town centres?

Margot James Portrait Margot James
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The impact of bank closures is, to some extent, ameliorated by the Post Office’s announcement a few weeks ago that it will be enabling both personal and SME banking customers to have a massive increase in face-to-face banking services across the country.