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<p>The government recognises that cash remains an important part of daily life for
millions of people across the UK, particularly those in vulnerable groups, and has
committed to legislate to protect access to cash.</p><p> </p><p>From 1 July to 23
September last year, the government held an Access to Cash Consultation on proposals
for new laws to make sure people only need to travel a reasonable distance to pay
in or take out cash. The government’s proposals intend to support the continued use
of cash in people’s daily lives and help to enable local businesses to continue accepting
cash by ensuring they can access deposit facilities. The government has carefully
considered responses to the consultation and will set out next steps in due course.</p><p>
</p><p>Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations
in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and
delivery.</p><p> </p><p>Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with
external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis
and are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel</a></p><p>
</p><p>On access to free-to-use ATMs specifically, free-to-use ATMs, LINK (the scheme
that runs the UK's largest ATM network) has commitments to protect the broad geographic
spread of free-to-use ATMs and is held to account against these commitments by the
Payment Systems Regulator. LINK has committed to protect free-to-use ATMs more than
one kilometre away from the next nearest free ATM or Post Office, and free access
to cash on high streets (where there is a cluster of five or more retailers) that
do not have a free-to-use ATM or a Post Office counter within one kilometre.</p><p>
</p><p>Following the Government’s commitment to legislate, firms are working together
through the Cash Action Group to develop new initiatives to provide shared services.
The Government welcomes the direction set by industry’s commitments at the end of
last year and looks forward to seeing what results they deliver in protecting cash
facilities for local communities across the UK.</p><p> </p>
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