Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the decline in the number of free-to-use cash machines on rural communities.

The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains important to the day-to-day lives of many people and businesses in the UK. At Spring Statement 2018, the Treasury launched a Call for Evidence on Cash & Digital Payments. This sought to gather evidence on how changing preferences for cash and digital payments impact on different sectors, regions and demographics. In its response document, the Government reiterated its policy is to safeguard access to cash for those who need it while supporting digital payments.

LINK, the scheme that runs the UK’s ATM network, has committed to maintain the broad geographical coverage of the ATM network in the UK. LINK has put in place specific arrangements to protect free-to-use ATMs more than 1 kilometre away from the next nearest free-to-use ATM. Furthermore, LINK recently announced new additional premiums to safeguard the presence of free-to-use ATMs in remote and deprived areas.

The Government-established Payment Systems Regulator, which regulates LINK, is closely monitoring developments within ATM provision and has used its powers to hold LINK to account over its commitments.