Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure free to use cash machines are available in all communities in the UK.

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. This will protect access to cash for those who need it, and ensure that the UK’s cash infrastructure is sustainable in the long run. Treasury is working at pace to develop legislation.

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.