Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure access to a) physical currency, b) banking services and c) legal services in (i) the UK and (ii) Bristol North East constituency.

The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK and in Bristol North East, including those who may be in vulnerable groups or face challenges using alternative payment methods. The Government is committed to maintaining the viability of cash as a payment method for those who choose to use it. 

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. LINK, the independent industry coordinating body, will then assess a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions, including banking hubs, where it considers a community requires additional cash services. 
 
In addition to this, banking is changing, with many customers benefiting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, the Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and high streets, including in Bristol North East.

That is why the Government is commissioning an independent Review into Access to Banking Services, chaired by Richard Lloyd OBE. The Review will assess the impact of changes in the provision of in-person banking services across the United Kingdom. The evidence gathered by the Review will inform decisions on whether future action is needed.

The Government also remains committed to supporting the financial services industry’s 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.

The Government also recognises the vital role the legal sector plays in supporting access to justice and sustaining local economies across the country. The legal profession in England and Wales and its regulators operates independently of Government. The Ministry of Justice works closely with representative and regulatory bodies, including the Law Society, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and the Legal Services Board (LSB), to help ensure that the wider legal services market remains effective, competitive, and accessible to people across England and Wales.

Legal aid is a vital part of the justice system, and the Government is making significant investments across criminal and civil legal aid, including additional funding of up to £34m a year for criminal legal aid advocates, to support the sustainability of the sector. The Government has already implemented significant uplifts to criminal legal aid solicitor fees, which will be worth around an additional £116m per year once in steady state. We are also uplifting immigration and housing legal aid fees, with a significant investment of £20 million a year once fully implemented – the first major increase for civil legal aid since 1996

Beyond legal aid, the Ministry of Justice is funding the activities of charities to bolster the delivery of legal support services – both in person and online - for people experiencing social welfare problems. The Ministry of Justice is providing nearly £20 million of multi-year funding, extending the existing legal support grant funding for a range of services (including Bristol Law Centre and North Bristol Advice Centre) to September 2026, and providing a new grant from October 2026 to March 2029.