Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Banking Services

Tuesday 8 April 2025 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Sir Julian Smith urged Ministers to assist Link in helping rural communities with the loss of face-to-face banking services.
  • Lewis Cocking requested a meeting with the Minister to discuss establishing banking hubs in communities that have lost all of their banks.
  • Clive Efford questioned the strict criteria applied by Link, suggesting that the process of banks gradually leaving the high street makes it difficult for communities to request banking hubs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Julian Smith Con Skipton and Ripon
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Rural communities such as Settle in North Yorkshire are facing the closure of face-to-face banking services, leading to difficulties for residents.

Question

Rural communities such as Settle in North Yorkshire are really struggling with the loss of face-to-face banking services. Link hubs are one route for them to replace the banks that are closing. I urge Ministers to do what they can with Link—I accept that it is an independent organisation—to help it to relax the criteria for rural communities, allowing them more face-to-face banking services.

Answer from Emma Reynolds (Economic Secretary to the Treasury)

I would be very happy to meet the right hon. Gentleman if he wanted to discuss a specific banking hub that is being considered. We work very closely with Link. As he will know, his Government passed the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, under which the Financial Conduct Authority, Link and the financial services sector ultimately have power over the criteria, which is not something we are planning to change.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not address the specific ask to ease the criteria for rural communities.

How: His Government Passed Legislation, Criteria Set By Independent Bodies

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Q2 Lewis Cocking Con Broxbourne
Context

Communities that have lost all their banks are finding it difficult to establish new banking hubs, and the previous Minister had scheduled a meeting but left before it could take place.

Question

How does the Minister plan to make it easier to establish banking hubs in communities that have lost all of their banks? I did have a meeting set up with the previous Minister, but she left Government before that meeting could take place. Will this Minister agree to meet me so that I can discuss the establishment of a banking hub in the town of Cheshunt in my Broxbourne constituency?

Answer from Emma Reynolds (Economic Secretary to the Treasury)

I am always happy to meet colleagues and will be happy to meet the hon. Gentleman.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific plans or actions for facilitating easier establishment of banking hubs.

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Q3 Clive Efford Lab Eltham and Chislehurst
Transport Business Compliance Local Government
Context

Communities like Eltham have experienced a gradual loss of bank branches, making it difficult for residents to conduct banking transactions. The current criteria set by Link make it challenging to establish new hubs.

Question

The criteria applied by Link are too strict, and banks are being able to walk away from their customers. In Eltham, we have had a salami-slicing process of banks gradually leaving the high street, but, because we have a building society, we cannot ask for a hub. Will the Minister undertake to review Link’s approach, because it is making it difficult for customers to carry out their banking business?

Answer from Emma Reynolds (Economic Secretary to the Treasury)

As I said in my previous answer, we do not have any plans to change the Link criteria; those are a matter for Link. However, there are some flexibilities in the way that it applies the criteria, depending on the local population, travel times to nearby bank branches and, indeed, the number of small businesses in an area. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend if that is of concern to him.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to reviewing Link's criteria but acknowledged flexibilities in applying them.

How: Link Sets The Criteria, Some Flexibilities Exist

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