Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the banking sector on facilitating electronic cashless payments on mobile devices.

The Government supports digital payment methods, including contactless mobile payments, which offer consumers and businesses convenient, tailored, and flexible ways of making purchases. Last year, we published a Call for Evidence on cash and digital payments in the new economy. This sought to, amongst other things, explore how the Government can continue to support digital payments. The Government will respond to the Call for Evidence in due course.

Regarding specific discussions, Treasury Ministers and Officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel.