Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will establish a working group with the Payment Systems Regulator on preventing an increase in financial exclusion.

The Government recognises that widespread access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. Government is continuing to engage with the Payment Systems Regulator and industry, including LINK, on this issue.

LINK has cancelled its third interchange fee reduction, due in January 2020, and put on hold its fourth reduction, due in January 2021, pending further review. The Payment Systems Regulator, who regulates LINK, has welcomed these adjustments, having stated that LINK must carefully review its decisions on interchange fees to reflect changing market conditions.

LINK has also recently announced new financial support for ATMs in remote and deprived areas.

The Government is also committed to ensuring that individuals, regardless of their background or income, have access to useful and affordable financial products and services. That’s why the Government established the Financial Inclusion Policy Forum in November 2017 with a membership of leaders from across the financial services industry, charities and consumer groups. The Forum provides leadership and ensures collaboration across government and with the sector in tackling financial exclusion. The Forum meets bi-annually, with the next meeting due to take place on 26 March 2019.