Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2017 to Question 111345, on bank services: small businesses, what representations he has received from business organisations on the (a) accessibility of full banking services for small and medium-sized enterprises when their bank branch closes and (b) suitability of the Post Office counter network for business banking.

Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

The Access to Banking Standard, launched in May 2017, commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing, along with the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board.

95% of banks’ business customers are now able to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. Government will have provided nearly £2 billion during the period 2011 to 2018 to maintain and modernise the Post Office network.