Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has carried out an impact assessment of regional disparities in access to cash.

The Government has not conducted an impact assessment on the effect of reduced access to cash on small businesses, on vulnerable groups or on regional disparities in access to cash.

The Government initiated a discussion on payment methods at Spring Statement 2018 through a Call for Evidence on Cash & Digital Payments in the New Economy. This sought to gather evidence on how changing preferences for cash and digital payments impact on different sectors, regions and demographics.

In its recent response to this Call for Evidence, the Government set out its commitment to supporting digital payments whilst safeguarding access to cash for those who need it. It announced a Treasury-led Joint Authorities Cash Strategy (JACS) Group, bringing together the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority and Payments Systems Regulator to inform and co-ordinate members’ activities related to cash.

Additionally, the Government-established Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is closely monitoring developments in ATM provision. The PSR regulates LINK, the scheme which runs the UK’s ATM network, and has used its powers to hold LINK to account over LINK’s commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of the ATM network.