Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has conducted a cost/benefit analysis of the potential merits of providing access to cash through cashback without purchase.

The Government’s view is that cashback without a purchase has the potential to be a valuable facility to cash users, and play an important role in the UK’s cash infrastructure. That is why the Government made legislative changes to support the widespread offering of cashback without a purchase by shops and other businesses as part of the Financial Services Act 2021. The financial services industry is already seeking to take advantage of these changes to the benefit of cash users; working with retailers to get this service rolled out to local communities.

The Government does not intend to mandate the provision of cashback without a purchase, which could impose associated costs on business.