Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Access to Cash assessment methodology to determine the need for banking hubs in communities.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments, will then assess a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions, including Banking Hubs, where it considers a community requires additional cash services.

LINK’s assessment criteria is based on rules set by the FCA. The FCA’s rules require LINK to consider a range of factors in their assessments. This includes travel times to nearby cash facilities and local population demographics, including the levels of vulnerability and the number of elderly people within the community.

Any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK, the financial services sector, and for the FCA, which oversees the access to cash regime. We continue to engage closely with all parties to ensure that the process meets the needs of individuals and businesses across the country.

With regards to banking hubs specifically, the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and over 180 are already open.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans on widening the criteria for establishing additional banking hubs.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments, will then assess a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions, including Banking Hubs, where it considers a community requires additional cash services.

LINK’s assessment criteria is based on rules set by the FCA. The FCA’s rules require LINK to consider a range of factors in their assessments. This includes travel times to nearby cash facilities and local population demographics, including the levels of vulnerability and the number of elderly people within the community.

Any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK, the financial services sector, and for the FCA, which oversees the access to cash regime. We continue to engage closely with all parties to ensure that the process meets the needs of individuals and businesses across the country.

With regards to banking hubs specifically, the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and over 180 are already open.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many banks have closed (a) since 4 July 2024 and (b) in the last five years.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government does not hold bank branch closure data.

Guidance from the FCA sets out its expectation of firms when they are deciding to reduce their physical branches or the number of free-to-use ATMs. Firms are expected to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs, and put in place alternatives, where this is reasonable.

The Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. These will provide individuals and businesses up and down the country with critical cash and banking services.

Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 190 are already open.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Golden age of nuclear delivers UK-US deal on energy security, published on 15 September 2025, what estimate his Department has made of the cost, including (a) new rail infrastructure and (b) armed security cost of transporting nuclear fuel to and from the proposed nuclear power stations.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In line with the regulator’s outcome-focused approach to security, each licensed operator must submit a security plan for approval by the ONR that ensures risks are identified and mitigated effectively and meet the robust security standards expected by HMG. It would therefore not be appropriate for the Government to pre-suppose the use of armed security for new infrastructure.

Any costs associated with meeting the security outcome requirements set by the Regulator are met by industry.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on access to the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Through our regular engagement with the aviation industry, we are aware of the operational implications following the loss of access to the EU’s European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service.

The Department continues to work with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, who are leading the Government’s business case on a future Satellite Based Augmentation System, to ensure that aviation requirements are understood and considered as part of the decision-making process.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 90569 on Banks: Closures, of the 190 already open banking hubs, how many are based in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament.

The locations of banking hubs are independently determined by LINK, the industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments. LINK will carry out an assessment wherever a planned branch closure is announced or if they receive a community request.

Of the 246 banking hubs announced so far, 32 will be based in Scotland, 192 in England, 15 in Wales and seven in Northern Ireland.

Of the 191 banking hubs that are already open, 26 are in Scotland, 147 in England, 12 in Wales and six in Northern Ireland.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 90569 on Banks: Closures, of the 240 banking hubs announced, how many will be based in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament.

The locations of banking hubs are independently determined by LINK, the industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments. LINK will carry out an assessment wherever a planned branch closure is announced or if they receive a community request.

Of the 246 banking hubs announced so far, 32 will be based in Scotland, 192 in England, 15 in Wales and seven in Northern Ireland.

Of the 191 banking hubs that are already open, 26 are in Scotland, 147 in England, 12 in Wales and six in Northern Ireland.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's Future of Post Office Green Paper, what discussions his Department has had with Government bodies on providing further in-person government services at post offices.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government’s Green Paper consultation on the future of the Post Office closed on 6 October. We thank all individuals and organisations for their detailed responses, including the responses related to Post Office’s role in providing in-person government services. We are carefully considering all responses in consultation with other departments, ahead of publishing the government response in early 2026.

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