Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the absence of in-person banking services in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire on blind and partially sighted people.

Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, the Government recognises that these changes may have resulted in detriment for some customers, particularly those who rely on in person banking services.

The Government recognises the importance of access to in person banking services for blind and partially sighted people, including in South Holland and the Deepings and in Lincolnshire, and across the United Kingdom. We are committed to ensuring that people who need in person banking services, including vulnerable and disabled customers, can continue to access essential services.

The Government is working closely with industry to support the roll out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 275 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 235 are already open. Banking hubs provide everyday counter services, including cash withdrawals and deposits, bill payments and balance enquiries, and also offer space for customers to meet community bankers from their own bank to carry out additional banking services.

The Government continues to engage with industry to improve the consistency, accessibility and range of services available in banking hubs so that they meet the needs of people and communities.

In addition, the Government has commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services to assess whether changes in the provision of in person banking services are causing consumer detriment, including to specific groups such as disabled customers. The findings of the Review will inform any further action that may be needed.

Alongside this, the Government intends to include a power in forthcoming financial services legislation to enable it to act to protect access to banking services, should this be necessary.

More widely, the Government published its Financial Inclusion Strategy last year which sets out a range of ambitious measures for government and industry to improve financial inclusion for underserved groups across the UK. This includes a focus on access to banking and accessibility, with interventions to make it easier for individuals to access a bank account and to make financial products more accessible through an inclusive design working group.