Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make representations to financial institutions in Northern Ireland to press for the establishment of more banking hubs.

I recognise that banking hubs, which are operated by the Post Office in partnership with the major high street providers, improve access for people from communities across the United Kingdom to in-person assistance from their bank.

Northern Ireland already has a banking hub in Kilkeel. Four additional hubs are due to open in Comber, Newcastle, Portrush, and Warrenpoint, following successful community requests from the Consumer Council Northern Ireland to LINK, the UK's cash access and ATM network.

Following the closure of a bank branch, LINK will identify whether a community requires further cash services and any community without a branch can contact LINK directly and ask to be assessed for support. It is right that individuals from local communities in Northern Ireland, who best understand the specific needs of their own community, are the people who contact LINK for an assessment.