Cash and Card Payments: Reduction in Availability

Lord Blunkett Excerpts

Tuesday 20th October 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Blunkett]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the financial sector about the decline in acceptance of cash payments and the pending reduction in availability of card payments in favour of payment by smart devices.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, HM Treasury (Lord Pitt-Watson) (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government are committed to ensuring cash remains a viable method of payment. Initiatives with the financial sector include LINK, to ensure that cash machines are available, the Post Office for withdrawal and deposits, Cash Access UK for banking hubs, and others, and we await the Lloyd report. Regulation of these services is done by the FCA. Cash acceptance by businesses remains voluntary and levels of acceptance are kept under review.

[Lord Blunkett (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend. I remind the House that, some time ago, I asked the then Minister, the noble Baroness, Lady Vere, if she would come to dinner with me on the proviso that, if I could not access the payment system, she would be the one to pay. We never had the date. Will my noble friend bring pressure to bear on UK Finance to ensure that its terminal approval system mandates tactile covers for flat screen payment devices, so that people with little or no sight can maintain their privacy and have the equality that others take for granted?

[Lord Pitt-Watson (Lab)]

That is a really good question. There are some initiatives from UK Finance that we should commend; for example, its Accessible Cards Code of Practice, where the largest card issuers have committed to common standards for the design of future cards. UK Finance has also developed accessibility guidelines for touch screen chip and PIN devices, as well as an approved list of accessible card terminals and vendors. UK Finance and the British Retail Consortium are working together to identify opportunities to embed these features where customers need them most. However, there is still work to be done, and officials continue to raise the issue with UK Finance. I am more than happy to reinforce that message.