Access to cash during the covid-19 outbreak

Motion Text

That this House commends the LINK commitment to replace all free-to-use ATMs within their network during the covid-19 pandemic; in addition acknowledges that cuts to the interchange fee have led to the closure of thousands of free-to-use ATMs; notes that this has affected rural communities most profoundly as alternative sources of cash demand a consumer-met fee or are bound by the closing hours of stores or post offices; further notes that this disproportionally affects the vulnerable and older populations who are increasingly becoming excluded from their local economies as long-distance travel for cash or the use of digital monies is unviable; and calls on the Government to work with the Payment Systems Regulator and Financial Conduct Authority to devise a tiered or zoned interchange fee to ensure that ATM infrastructure funding is distributed fairly throughout the UK and protects ATMs in all communities, despite their population and withdrawal volume levels.