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<p>Last year, the Government initiated a discussion on payment methods through a Call
for Evidence on Cash and Digital Payments in the New Economy. This sought to gather
evidence from industry and the public alike on how changing preferences for cash and
digital payments impact on different sectors, regions and demographics.</p><p> </p><p>A
formal Summary of Responses to this Call for Evidence was published in May 2019. This
response set out the Government’s commitment to supporting digital payments, whilst
safeguarding access to cash for those who need it. It also highlighted that the Treasury
would set up and chair a Joint Authorities Cash Strategy Group, made up of regulators
and the Bank of England, to facilitate further co-ordination between the authorities
and provide comprehensive oversight of the overall cash infrastructure.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government-established Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is closely monitoring developments
in ATM provision, including those that are free-to-use. The PSR regulates LINK, the
scheme which runs the UK’s ATM network, and has used its powers to hold LINK to account
over LINK’s commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of free-to-use ATMs.</p><p>
</p><p>LINK has put in place specific arrangements to protect free-to-use ATMs more
than 1 kilometre away from the next nearest free-to-use ATM. LINK has also enhanced
its Financial Inclusion Programme by tripling the funding available for free-to-use
ATMs in the most deprived areas of the UK.</p>
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