Policy paper

Access to Cash: Call for Evidence and Summary of Responses

This Call for Evidence sets out the government’s legislative aims for protecting access to cash, and sought views on key considerations for the future of the UK’s cash system. The Call for Evidence has concluded and a Summary of Responses has been published.

• From: HM Treasury
• Published: 15 October 2020
• Last updated: 1 July 2021 — See all updates

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Documents

Access to Cash: Call for Evidence

PDF, 322 KB, 32 pages

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Access to Cash: Call for Evidence – Summary of Responses

Ref: ISBN 978-1-911686-04-0, 3139

PDF, 197 KB, 15 pages

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Details

In recent years the UK has witnessed a decline in the use of cash payments towards card and other digital payment methods. This transition towards digital payments brings many opportunities, nonetheless, cash remains an essential payment method for many. The government therefore announced at March Budget 2020 that it will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash for those who need it and ensure that the UK’s cash infrastructure is sustainable in the long term.

This Call for Evidence sets out the government’s aims for protecting access to cash throughout the UK. It sought views on: how the government can ensure the UK maintains an appropriate network of cash withdrawal and deposit-taking facilities over time through legislation, including the potential role of cashback; the factors affecting cash acceptance; and whether the government should give a single regulator overall statutory responsibility for maintaining access to cash.

This Call for Evidence opened on the 15 October 2020 and closed on the 25 November 2020. The Summary of Responses was published on 1 July 2021 and provides an overview of the findings from the Access to Cash Call for Evidence. Alongside this document, the Government has published the Access to Cash Consultation in summer 2021, which seeks views on legislative proposals to protect access to cash.

Published 15 October 2020
Last updated 1 July 2021 + show all updates

1. 1 July 2021

   Added: Summary of Responses.

2. 15 October 2020

   First published.