Rachel Blake

Voted NO on: Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading

Rachel Blake voted NO on 'Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading' (68-242, defeated)

Voted NO on: Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading

Rachel Blake voted NO on 'Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading' (68-242, defeated)

Voted NO on: King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (p)

Rachel Blake voted NO on 'King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (p)' (104-316, defeated)

Voted NO on: King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (l)

Rachel Blake voted NO on 'King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (l)' (78-408, defeated)

Voted NO on: King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (o)

Rachel Blake voted NO on 'King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (o)' (104-317, defeated)

Voted NO on: King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (p)

Rachel Blake voted NO on 'King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (p)' (104-316, defeated)

Voted NO on: King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (l)

Rachel Blake voted NO on 'King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (l)' (78-408, defeated)

Voted AYE on: King's Speech Motion for an Address

Rachel Blake voted AYE on 'King's Speech Motion for an Address' (307-171, passed)

Voted NO on: King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (o)

Rachel Blake voted NO on 'King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (o)' (104-317, defeated)

Banking Hubs

I thank my hon. Friend for his thoughtful intervention, and I wish local businesses in his constituency all the best. These decisions are made by Link, but the Government keep a very close eye on the assessment criteria.

Banking Hubs

I absolutely recognise the importance of banking hubs, as my hon. Friend has described. I am very grateful to her for highlighting the different models available, and I very much hope that she will submit some of that evidence and the case study to the access to banking services review. I am particularly struck by the reflections of hon. Members on the importance of banking services for those who are vulnerable, and the importance of banking services in urban and rural communities and how they h

Banking Hubs

I would absolutely be happy to meet with the hon. Member to talk about that issue. I hope to meet with Members from across the House about the access to banking services review.

Banking Hubs

I thank my hon. Friend for her contribution, and I hope that we can discuss it during the review.

Banking Hubs

My hon. Friend makes important points about access to banking services across a number of different areas. I am grateful to him, and I hope we can continue to discuss this issue. We now have very little time left—

Spoke in debate: Banking Hubs

Parliamentary appearance by Rachel Blake

Voted AYE on: King's Speech Motion for an Address

Rachel Blake voted AYE on 'King's Speech Motion for an Address' (307-171, passed)

Banking Hubs

I am not going to give way. I fully support those powers, and expect the FCA to use them where necessary. However, the Government are concerned that although firms have been reshaping their branch networks in response to customer demand, this may be creating particular challenges, which is why we have brought forward the review. The Government recognise how important it is that communities such as those represented by the hon. Member for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey and many other Members fr

Banking Hubs

I have to finish now. I welcome the commitments that firms have made to maintain or improve their existing branches, recognising just how important they are to their customers. There are already some rules and obligations for firms that are changing their branch networks, which they must take very seriously. All Members should know that those decisions must be taken with regard to the impact on customers and communities. I underline that banks and building societies are expected to put appropria

Banking Hubs

I am going to make a little bit of progress now, because we do not have much time. Despite the important progress that we have heard this evening about the number of banking hubs that have been set up—a commitment to 275 with 235 already delivered—it would be premature to conclude that all people and communities are receiving support with their banking needs. Decisions to close bank branches are ultimately commercial decisions taken by banks and building societies, and reflect some of the change

Banking Hubs

I disagree—I think that the hon. Gentleman goes too far in his criticism of the criteria. It is important that the Government continue to monitor how these banking hubs are assessed and the need for them. I will close by talking about—