Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of different models for providing people with access to cash.

The Government recognises the importance of cash to the daily lives of millions of people and businesses across the UK, including those who may be on low incomes or vulnerable. That is why at the March 2020 Budget, the Government committed to legislating to protect access to cash and ensuring that the UK’s cash infrastructure is sustainable in the longer term.

On 1 July 2021, the Government published the Access to Cash Consultation, seeking views on proposals for new laws to make sure people only need to travel a reasonable distance to pay in or take out cash. The consultation will be open until 23 September and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/access-to-cash-consultation.

Under the Government’s proposals, firms would be able to use a range of solutions – including existing facilities - to provide access for the purpose of meeting geographic requirements, provided that they are judged to be delivering reasonable access by the responsible regulator.