Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps he has taken to (a) protect and (b) increase access to free-to-use cash machines.

The Government recognises that widespread access to cash remains extremely important to millions of people across the UK. That is why, at the March 2020 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash, which builds on industry initiatives.

LINK, the scheme that runs the UK’s largest ATM network, has existing arrangements in place to protect free-to-use ATMs that do not have another free-to-use ATM or Post Office within 1 kilometre. LINK’s members have also made £5 million available to fund ATMs at the request of communities with poor access to cash.

The Government is also closely engaging with the financial regulators to monitor and assess risks around cash relating to COVID-19. In order to work safely, retailers have been recommended to minimise contacts around transactions. However, it remains the individual retailer’s choice as to whether to accept or decline any form of payment, including cash or card.