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Written question asked by Paul Monaghan (Scottish National Party) on Friday, 27 November 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 1 December 2015. It was answered by Harriett Baldwin (Conservative) on Monday, 7 December 2015 on behalf of the Treasury.

Bank Services: Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

Question

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what correspondence the Government has had with Lloyds TSB on implementation of the Access to Banking Protocol and the (a) closure of branches and (b) reduction of banking services in the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency.

Answer

The Government welcomed the industry-wide Access to Banking protocol announced in March 2015. From the first of May this year, each participating bank has committed to carry out a number of steps if it is closing a branch. This includes establishing the impact of a branch closure before it takes place; finding suitable alternative provision; and putting in place suitable alternative measures before a branch is closed.


There is a commitment to review the operation of the protocol after one year. In August, the Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise and I wrote to the Chief Executive of the British Bankers’ Association and requested an update on progress towards the appointment of an independent reviewer. A copy of the letter was also sent to the Chief Executives of the banks that are signatories to the Access to Banking protocol.


Banks and building societies need to balance customer interests, market competition, and other commercial factors when considering their strategy.


Decisions on the opening and closing of individual bank branches are taken by the management of each bank on a commercial basis without intervention from Government.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
18039
Session
2015-16
Grouped for answer
Yes
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Bank services Closures Lloyds TSB Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk