Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Imogen Walker and Lucy Rigby

Tuesday 3rd November 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Lucy Rigby)]

As the hon. Member knows, we have a commitment already to 350 banking hubs. We are working with industry to deliver those 350 hubs over the course of this Parliament. We also have the access to banking review being done by Richard Lloyd. The end result will be more banking hubs across the country.

[Imogen Walker (Hamilton and Clyde Valley) (Lab)]

T5. Real progress was made in the Budget on the former mineworkers’ pensions, and I am very grateful to the Chancellor and the rest of the team for that, but there is more to do and time is pressing. Our mineworkers did incredibly difficult jobs in very challenging environments and kept the lights on for all of us—they deserve every penny of their pensions. Can the Chancellor tell me when we can expect an update on the release of the remaining funds?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Imogen Walker and Lucy Rigby

Tuesday 8th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Imogen Walker (Hamilton and Clyde Valley) (Lab)]

When the Bank of Scotland closed its Larkhall branch, it left the town with no high street bank. It is a problem not only for Larkhall but for nearby villages including Ashgill and Netherburn. I am grateful to Treasury Ministers for engaging with me on this issue over the last few months. What can the Government do to support towns like Larkhall and protect face-to-face banking services in rural communities?

[Lucy Rigby]

I want to be really clear about this: people who need in-person banking must be able to access essential services, including those in rural communities. That is exactly why I commissioned the independent review on access to banking services, which will gather data about current access to banking services. It is the Government’s intention for there to be a power in the Financial Services and Markets Bill to allow the Government to act on that review.