The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers in the UK. However, it is not appropriate for the Government to comment on individual contracts relating to ATM charges.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government is engaging, and will continue to engage, with the regulators and industry on this important topic. The Government-established Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is closely monitoring developments in ATM provision. The PSR regulates LINK, the scheme which runs the UK\u2019s ATM network, and has used its powers to hold LINK to account over LINK\u2019s commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of the ATM network.<\/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 and has also enhanced its Financial Inclusion Programme. More recently, LINK has committed to protecting free access to cash on high streets \u2013 where there is a cluster of five or more retailers \u2013 that don\u2019t have a free-to-use ATM or a Post Office counter within 1 kilometre.<\/p>
<\/p>
UK Finance has also launched a Community Access to Cash Initiative, offering grants to local communities to improve cash access.<\/p>
<\/p>
In addition, the Government has invested heavily in maintaining a stable network of Post Office branches, with investment of around £2 billion since 2010. Currently, 99% of personal customers and 95% of small business customers can carry out their everyday banking locally at one of the Post Office\u2019s 11,500 branches.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-03T16:24:26.777Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NoteMachine: Cash Dispensing"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on access to cash of NoteMachine's plans to convert approximately 3,000 of its 7,000 free-to-use machines to pay-to-use; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4077", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emma Reynolds"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wolverhampton North East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emma Reynolds"} ], "uin" : "292223"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147019", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147019/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government is committed to greening our economy and designed the changes for energy-saving materials to retain as much of the VAT relief as possible for UK households, while complying with EU law. It is anticipated these changes will have a negligible environmental impact.<\/p>
<\/p>
While the UK remains a member of the EU, the Government is obliged to make these changes. It may be possible to amend these rules once the UK has left the EU.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3991", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jesse Norman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hereford and South Herefordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jesse Norman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "292304"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-03T13:13:33.833Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Solar Power: VAT"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the environment of the increase in VAT on materials used for solar installations to 20 per cent.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4641", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Norris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nottingham North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alex Norris"} ], "uin" : "292302"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147020", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147020/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
HM Treasury has no current plans to increase VAT on fossil fuels. All taxes are kept under review and decisions on tax and their impact are considered as part of the normal fiscal policy making process.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and has commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Climate Change Act 2008, as well as the Paris Agreement, which was ratified in November 2016.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3991", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jesse Norman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hereford and South Herefordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jesse Norman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-03T14:48:41.947Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Fossil Fuels: VAT"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect on the environment of an increase in VAT on fossil fuels.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4641", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Norris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nottingham North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alex Norris"} ], "uin" : "292303"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147021", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147021/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government is committed to greening our economy and designed the changes for energy-saving materials to retain as much of the VAT relief as possible for UK households, while complying with EU law. It is anticipated these changes will have a negligible environmental impact.<\/p>
<\/p>
While the UK remains a member of the EU, the Government is obliged to make these changes. It may be possible to amend these rules once the UK has left the EU.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3991", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jesse Norman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hereford and South Herefordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jesse Norman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "292302"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-03T13:13:33.897Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Solar Power: VAT"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department assessed the environmental impact of increasing VAT on materials used for solar installations prior to making that decision.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4641", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Norris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nottingham North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alex Norris"} ], "uin" : "292304"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147023", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147023/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government recognises the continued importance of free access to cash to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. The Government is engaging, and will continue to engage, with the regulators and industry on this important topic.<\/p>
<\/p>
LINK, the scheme that runs the UK\u2019s ATM network, has publicly committed to maintain the broad geographic spread of ATMs and has put in place specific arrangements to protect remote free-to-use ATMs one kilometre or further from the next nearest free-to-use ATM. More recently, LINK has committed to protecting free access to cash on high streets \u2013 where there is a cluster of five or more retailers \u2013 that don\u2019t have a free-to-use ATM or a Post Office counter within 1 kilometre.<\/p>
<\/p>
UK Finance has also launched a Community Access to Cash Initiative, offering grants to local communities to improve cash access.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government established the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) in 2015, with robust powers and a statutory objective to ensure that the UK's payment systems work in the interests of their users. The PSR regulates LINK and is monitoring ATM market developments closely. The PSR has used its powers to hold LINK to account over their public commitments.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-03T16:15:12.447Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cash Dispensing"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will instruct the Payment Systems Regulator to take the necessary steps to prevent further reductions in access to free-to-use cash machines.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"} ], "uin" : "292108"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147042", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147042/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government is currently considering how best to support businesses across the country in the event of a no deal exit from the EU.<\/p>
<\/p>
The first port of call for a business facing cashflow issues should be commercial lending. As the Bank of England have said, UK banks are well-prepared, well-capitalised, and publicly committed to continuing to lend to viable businesses.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are monitoring businesses and sectors which may be exposed to short-term difficulties as a result of EU Exit and have been clear that should there be no deal, we would support the economy through whatever appropriate action is necessary, in keeping with the principles of managing public money.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4483", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rishi Sunak"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Richmond (Yorks)"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rishi Sunak"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-03T16:37:12.403Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Business: Government Assistance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral contribution of 25 September 2019 from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Official Report Column 739, if he will publish the criteria for which a business will be judged fundamentally viable in order to receive assistance from the Government in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chi Onwurah"} ], "uin" : "292234"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147043", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147043/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Overall, the government has already made over £6.3bn available to prepare for EU exit. This includes £2 billion of core funding for departments for Brexit in 2020-21, which was confirmed in the recent Spending Round.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government has introduced significant and widespread measures to aid SMEs\u2019 preparations for Brexit. We have created a £108m Brexit Business Preparedness Pot \u2013 which is being allocated across government.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government is supporting the North through devolution deals for, among others, Manchester, Liverpool, and, most recently, North of Tyne, as well as through over £13 billion of investment in better transport across the north. In addition, we have invested over £3 billion from the local growth fund in the region since 2015, and we committed at the last Budget to announce a renewed northern powerhouse strategy.<\/p>
<\/p>
In the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the Government has guaranteed funding for certain EU funded projects agreed before the end of 2020. This includes EU funded research projects, where UK organisations successfully bid directly to the European Commission on a competitive basis, and ensures that UK charities, businesses and universities, will continue to receive funding over a project\u2019s lifetime, even in a no deal scenario.<\/p>
<\/p>
The UK economy remains resilient but we will continue to closely monitor any developments in economic risks to firms, sectors, and regions. Should circumstances require, the government will take the necessary action to support the UK economy through the transition.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4483", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rishi Sunak"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Richmond (Yorks)"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rishi Sunak"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-03T16:38:25.217Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Business: Government Assistance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral contribution of 25 September 2019 from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Official Report Column 739, what support has been planned for fundamentally viable businesses in the North East in the event of supply chain and trade issues as a result of the UK leaving the EU on 31 October 2019.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chi Onwurah"} ], "uin" : "292235"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147098", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1147098/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As the competent authority for the implementation of financial sanctions in the UK, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), which is part of HM Treasury, ensures that financial sanctions are properly understood and enforced. A key function of this role is implementing a licensing regime.<\/p>
<\/p>
OFSI does not publish the details of individual licences granted.<\/p>
<\/p>
OFSI can only issue licences where there are specific and relevant licensing grounds enabling us to do so, and where the conditions in those grounds have been met. The available grounds can be found in the legislation underpinning each particular financial sanctions regime.<\/p>
Each licence application requires OFSI to consider the relevant evidence, which it does on a case by case basis before deciding whether to grant a licence.<\/p>
<\/p>