Dec. 21 2023
Source Page: Rural Scotland Data Dashboard: OverviewFound: Rural Scotland Data Dashboard: Overview
Jan. 30 2012
Source Page: Table showing Government owned empty properties in Essex. 6 p.Found: TownFloor Area TypeVacant SpaceHolding Floor AreaVacant Space DescVacancy TypeVacant Space IDDepartment for Business
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of banking hubs in helping to ensure access to banking facilities in rural communities.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
It is important that all customers, wherever they live, should have appropriate access to banking and cash services and the government monitors this situation closely.
Following recent discussions with the UK high street banks, UK Finance confirmed 225 Hubs will be announced by the end of 2024. Participating high street banks have also committed to improving Hubs by standardising the services available between firms, ensuring that customers do not require their own digital device to bank, trialling both a ‘customer liaison service’ and Saturday openings. The banks have agreed to keep services under review to ensure their effectiveness for all customers.
Banking Hubs are recommended by LINK and delivered by Cash Access UK, according to criteria set by industry. The Government does not intervene in these decisions. If a Hub is not available, rural communities can bank via the Post Office, which allows personal and business customers to carry out everyday banking services at 11,500 branches across the UK. The Post Office is also required to ensure that 95% of the total rural population across the UK is within 3 miles of their nearest Post Office.
Feb. 27 2008
Source Page: Afghanistan: economic incentives and development initiatives to reduce opium production, by Christopher Ward, David Mansfield, Peter Oldham, and William Byrd. Updated version dated February 2008. 126 p.Found: Support to private rural business development would need to be accompanied by formation of groups and
Written Evidence May. 22 2024
Inquiry: Access to High Street Banking in WalesFound: The closure of high street banks affects most people in some way, however rural areas are most
Mar. 14 2024
Source Page: Create a 2024 annual declaration for a Countryside Stewardship revenue claimFound: Agreement holders can create an annual declaration online using the Rural Payments service if there
Oct. 10 2011
Source Page: Table showing how many people with disabilities were employed by each Government department in the years 2006-10. 5 p.Found: ....National Measurement Office 5....0.00.0..UK Intellectual Property Office30.00.00.030.020.0Small Business
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Penrith and The Border)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the accessibility of banking services to rural communities.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government believes that all customers, wherever they live, should have appropriate access to banking and cash services, and is monitoring this issue closely. It is imperative that firms recognise the needs of all their customers, including those who need to use in-person services.
UK customers can access banking services through a number of different channels. This includes in branches, Post Offices or Banking Hubs, as well as via telephone banking and through digital means such as mobile or online banking.
The Post Office allows personal and business customers to carry out everyday banking services at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK. The Post Office is required by the Department for Business & Trade to ensure that 95% of the total rural population across the UK is within 3 miles of their nearest Post Office.
Banking Hubs are an initiative which enable customers of participating banks to access cash and banking services in shared facilities. Over 100 Banking Hubs have been announced so far, and the Government hopes to see these all open as soon as possible.
Asked by: Keir Mather (Labour - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on the adequacy of the provision of postal services in rural areas.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Ofcom, as the independent regulator, is responsible for the provision of a universal postal service. Its regulatory framework requires Royal Mail to ensure that, for the UK as a whole, the premises of not less than 98% of users of postal services are within half a mile of a post box and, in all postcode areas, the premises of 95% of users of postal services are within 3 miles of an access point (such as a post box, a Post Office or a Customer Service Point within a Delivery Office).
As part of its 2022 review of postal regulation, Ofcom considered accessibility of the service, including for rural users, and decided to maintain the existing regulations.
Feb. 21 2024
Source Page: Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact AssessmentFound: Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment