On 15 October 2020, HM Treasury issued a call for evidence concerning access to cash.

The Government committed at the March 2020 Budget to bring forward legislation to protect access to cash and ensure that the UK’s cash infrastructure is sustainable in the long term. This will ensure that those who may be less able to benefit from wider moves to digital payment methods are not left behind, and that cash continues to be available for those that need to use it.

The call for evidence sets out the Government’s aims for protecting access to cash throughout the UK. It seeks 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.

The call for evidence will close on 25 November 2020.