Oral Answers to Questions

Imogen Walker Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[James Murray]

We are providing a 20% cut in business rates for pubs in England. I urge the Scottish Government to do the same for Scottish pubs.

[Imogen Walker (Hamilton and Clyde Valley) (Lab)]

When the Bank of Scotland closed its Larkhall branch, it left the town with no high street bank. It is a problem not only for Larkhall but for nearby villages including Ashgill and Netherburn. I am grateful to Treasury Ministers for engaging with me on this issue over the last few months. What can the Government do to support towns like Larkhall and protect face-to-face banking services in rural communities?

[Lucy Rigby]

I want to be really clear about this: people who need in-person banking must be able to access essential services, including those in rural communities. That is exactly why I commissioned the independent review on access to banking services, which will gather data about current access to banking services. It is the Government’s intention for there to be a power in the Financial Services and Markets Bill to allow the Government to act on that review.