Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Access to Cash assessment methodology to determine the need for banking hubs in communities.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments, will then assess a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions, including Banking Hubs, where it considers a community requires additional cash services.
LINK’s assessment criteria is based on rules set by the FCA. The FCA’s rules require LINK to consider a range of factors in their assessments. This includes travel times to nearby cash facilities and local population demographics, including the levels of vulnerability and the number of elderly people within the community.
Any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK, the financial services sector, and for the FCA, which oversees the access to cash regime. We continue to engage closely with all parties to ensure that the process meets the needs of individuals and businesses across the country.
With regards to banking hubs specifically, the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and over 180 are already open.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans on widening the criteria for establishing additional banking hubs.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments, will then assess a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions, including Banking Hubs, where it considers a community requires additional cash services.
LINK’s assessment criteria is based on rules set by the FCA. The FCA’s rules require LINK to consider a range of factors in their assessments. This includes travel times to nearby cash facilities and local population demographics, including the levels of vulnerability and the number of elderly people within the community.
Any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK, the financial services sector, and for the FCA, which oversees the access to cash regime. We continue to engage closely with all parties to ensure that the process meets the needs of individuals and businesses across the country.
With regards to banking hubs specifically, the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and over 180 are already open.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Digital ID scheme users will be able to delete their Digital ID.
Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
People will be able to remove their Digital ID from the GOV.UK Wallet held on their smartphone, as they will be able to with any other credential held in the app.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Digital ID scheme will use NHS data.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The credential will be able to display and/or share name, date of birth, information on nationality or residency status, and a photo (as the basis for biometric security). This is similar to documents like passports and eVisas. The consultation will explore whether it would be helpful for users if additional information, like address, should be captured. We have no plans to include NHS data in the credential.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Digital ID will be accepted as proof of identification.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government has announced plans for a new national digital ID for all UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 and over. Employers will be required to conduct digital right to work checks using the new digital credential by the end of this parliament.
Through the consultation, the Government will be exploring the other circumstances in which it could be a choice for people to use this digital ID as proof of identification to make people’s lives less frustrating by giving them easier and more secure access to services. These could include things like getting support into work, accessing free childcare hours, checking free school meals, using financial services, buying a house, or buying alcohol.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the proposed digital ID would be accepted as identification to vote in general elections.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Once the new digital credential is available, the Government intends to add it to the list of acceptable forms of ID for use in voting in elections. It will not be required for voting, however, as other forms of ID will still be available. We will confirm the details of this closer to the launch of the new digital credential once further development has been completed.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what routes of travel are undertaken to transport nuclear waste within the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
There are a number of proven routes to transport nuclear waste.
On the grounds of national security, the Government does not publish information on specific routes taken.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the annual security costs are of nuclear waste transport within the UK; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his Department's policies on those costs.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not publish the specific security costs of nuclear waste transport on the grounds of national security.
The transportation of nuclear waste materials is long-established and has an excellent safety and security record.
Nuclear waste transports operate within extremely stringent safety and security standards, which are continuously monitored to minimise the risk of any incident.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will hold discussions with the Chief Executive of GB Energy on changes to employment levels in the oil and gas sector in Aberdeen.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department continues to work quickly to set Great British Energy up for success and ensure all British people feel the benefits.
The Office for Clean Energy Jobs has already worked with industry, Scottish Government and unions to launch the ‘Energy Skills Passport’ for offshore Oil and Gas workers, putting clean energy at the heart of our modern industrial strategy.
We are committed to a just transition for industries based in the North Sea. Aberdeen will be at the heart of this transition, supported by initiatives such as the Energy Skills Passport and the Energy Transition Zone.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's policy on hydrogen on regional water availability.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are working with environmental regulators in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as DEFRA and National Energy System Operator (NESO) to ensure that the impact of projects on regional water bodies is carefully considered.