Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress she has made on joint discussions between the Post Office and banks to expand the range of banking services available at post offices.

The Government is supportive of industry initiatives that assist access to in-person banking. These include the Post Office Banking Framework which allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK. The specific services provided under the Framework are subject to commercial negotiations between individual banks and the Post Office, and the Government has no role in deciding what these arrangements are.

In due course, as committed to, the government will look to host joint discussions with Post Office and the banking sector on collaboration between Post Office and the banking sector in providing cash and banking services, on a commercial and voluntary basis.