Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure people are able to access cash.

The Government recognises that widespread free access to, and acceptance of, cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK.

In Spring 2018, the Government conducted a Call for Evidence on Cash & Digital Payments in the New Economy. In the recent response to this Call for Evidence, the Government committed to supporting digital payments whilst safeguarding access to cash for those who need it. Furthermore, the Government announced the launch of the Joint Authorities Cash Strategy (JACS) Group, which brings together the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), Financial Conduct Authority and Bank of England to ensure a comprehensive oversight of the overall cash infrastructure in light of changing trends related to cash.

The Government established the PSR in 2015, with robust powers and a statutory objective to ensure that the UK's payment systems work in the interests of their users. 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.

Furthermore, the Government has invested heavily in maintaining a stable network of Post Office branches, with investment of over £2 billion since 2010. Currently, 99 per cent of personal customers and 95 per cent of small business customers can access cash locally at one of the Post Office’s 11,500 branches.