Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to ensure that (a) banks and (b) financial services providers increase access to (i) products and (ii) services through the Financial Inclusion Strategy.

On 5 December, I convened a Financial Inclusion Committee which has been established to tackle the problems of financial exclusion. Through this committee, I will work with consumer groups and industry on the development of a Financial Inclusion Strategy.

This strategy will aim to tackle barriers to individual and households’ ability to access affordable and appropriate financial products and services. This will include access to banking, credit and insurance.