Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of proposed changes to the ATM network, and of the potential for such changes to limit access to free ATMs in some poorer communities.

The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK, and will continue to work with industry to ensure continued free access to cash.

LINK, the scheme that runs the ATM network in the UK, has assured the Government that it is committed to maintaining an extensive network of free-to-use cash machines regardless of any changes currently under consideration within the scheme, and to ensuring that the present geographical spread of ATMs is maintained.

They have also assured Government that the industry is committed to maintaining widespread free access to cash, and that any reduction in the number of ATMs is likely to be in areas where there are currently multiple ATMs. They are committed to maintaining their Financial Inclusion Programme to ensure the provision of ATMs in areas of deprivation, where demand would not otherwise make one viable.

In 2015 the Government set up the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) with the statutory objective to ensure that the UK’s payment systems work in the interests of their users. The PSR is monitoring developments within ATM provision, and is conducting ongoing internal work on the impact that changes to interchange fees may have. Government is confident that the PSR will use its powers to act should any of the firms it regulates behave in a way that conflicts with its statutory objectives.