Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 15 Nov 2022
Oral Answers to Questions
"High street SMEs keep telling me how unfair the current business rate system is, and of course Labour agrees, so as we enter a Conservative recession, will the Chancellor follow Labour’s lead by lifting the small business rate relief for 300,000 businesses to give our high street businesses the boost …..."Emma Hardy - View Speech
View all Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Monday 14th November 2022
Asked by:
Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice)
Question
to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential challenges people with disabilities experience when accessing online banking services.
Answered by Andrew Griffith
- Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
In 2021, 86% of UK customers used a form of remote banking such as telephone banking, a banking app or online banking services. UK banking customers have never had more choice in how they fit their banking into their everyday lives.
It is important that those with a characteristic of vulnerability, such as people with disabilities, have appropriate access to banking services. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has guidance for firms on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers, setting out a number of best practices. The guidance explores, among other things, how firms can understand the needs of vulnerable customers and provide targeted services for this cohort. Examples range from staff having the skills and capability to recognise and respond to the needs of vulnerable customers, to product and service design, customer services and communication. In addition, like all service providers, banks and building societies are bound under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments, where necessary, in the way they deliver their services.
Some people with disabilities may find online banking services preferable and easier to use, however the Government recognises that some people may continue to prefer to carry out their banking in-person. In light of closing bank branches, the Government cannot reverse the changes in the market and in customer behaviour; nor can it determine firms’ commercial strategies in response to those changes.
Guidance from the FCA sets out its expectation of banks and building societies when they are deciding to close their branches or free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of a planned closure on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and consider possible alternative access arrangements. This Guidance has recently been strengthened to ensure firms pay closer attention to the needs of their consumers, particularly those in vulnerable circumstances. Alternative forms of banking may include by telephone or via the Post Office, which allows 99% of personal banking and 95% of business customers to carry out their everyday banking at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 03 Nov 2022
Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
"I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.
I wish to say from the beginning that I will push the new clause to a vote. I move the new clause in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Stella Creasy). As we heard …..."Emma Hardy - View Speech
View all Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice) contributions to the debate on: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 03 Nov 2022
Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
"I want to press the new clause to a vote.
Question put, That the clause be read a Second time...."Emma Hardy - View Speech
View all Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice) contributions to the debate on: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 03 Nov 2022
Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
"I thank my hon. Friend for the incredible speech that she is making. Looking at the Royal National Institute of Blind People briefing, does she agree how important it is for visually impaired or blind people to be able to access telephone and face-to-face banking services?..."Emma Hardy - View Speech
View all Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice) contributions to the debate on: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 03 Nov 2022
Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
"Outlaw that!..."Emma Hardy - View Speech
View all Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice) contributions to the debate on: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 03 Nov 2022
Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
"On that point, will my hon. Friend flag to the Minister that, if a bank machine does not have buttons and is just a touch screen, it is very difficult for blind and partially sighted people to know where the numbers are, so as to put their PIN in correctly? …..."Emma Hardy - View Speech
View all Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice) contributions to the debate on: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 03 Nov 2022
Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
"This might not be strictly within the scope of the new clause, but will the Minister take away the point about the problems with touchpads when people pay for things in shops? With flat surfaces, it is incredibly difficult for visually impaired and partially sighted people to know which buttons …..."Emma Hardy - View Speech
View all Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice) contributions to the debate on: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 03 Nov 2022
Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
"One message worth highlighting that I received was, “Hi mum, I’ve lost my phone. Please send some money to this number.” I rang both my daughters to ask, “Is this from one of you?”. They both said it was not. This “Hi mum” one that is going round at the …..."Emma Hardy - View Speech
View all Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice) contributions to the debate on: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Thu 03 Nov 2022
Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)
"I support the new clause. I refer the Minister to the evidence given by Mike Haley, the chief executive of CIFAS. In respect of fraud, he said:
“Absolutely, there should be a national strategy, and prevention should be at its core.”
He said that the Home Office was looking at
…..."Emma Hardy - View Speech
View all Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice) contributions to the debate on: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Ninth sitting)