Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2019 to Question 1792, on Barclays: Post Office, what assessment he has made of the effect of Barclays Bank's planned withdrawal from the banking framework with Post Office Ltd on customers in rural areas who (a) do not have access to the internet, (b) are over 75 years old and (c) have accessibility needs.

On 24 October 2019, following my meeting with Matt Hammerstein, CEO Barclays UK, Barclays announced that they will commit to full participation in the Post Office Banking Framework from the renewal date in early 2020, including maintaining the cash withdrawal facility using debit cards for Barclays customers.

The Government has been clear that industry must play a key role in ensuring access to cash and banking services for people and businesses, and welcomes this decision which will continue to allow 95% of business and 99% of personal banking customers to carry out their everyday banking services at over 11,500 post offices across the UK.