Rachel Blake

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—

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

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—

Banking Hubs

I will.

Banking Hubs

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey (Graham Leadbitter) for securing this debate and for setting out the concerns of not only of his constituents but, as he made clear, those of the many Members who are in the Chamber this evening who want to talk about this topic. I congratulate him on gathering people from across the country and from across different political persuasions to talk about access to banking services—I know how important it is to people. Let me sta

Referral of Prime Minister to Committee of Privileges

On the point of reading out statements, I see that the right hon. Lady is enjoying reading out her statement. What I cannot see is the case that she makes about the Privileges Committee, and what she does not think is right about a criminal investigation and the inquiries that are consistently being made about the decision, which we have accepted was wrong. What is wrong with the Foreign Affairs Committee and what is wrong with the processes—

Topical Questions

T2. The Cities of London and Westminster has more jobs in it than people—certainly many more than there are young people. For too long, though, some of the young people in the very centre of London have not had the chances they should. I welcome the Government’s youth guarantee. Will the Secretary of State tell me how it will work with institutions such as Westminster city council, the Corporation of London, Zacchaeus 2000 and the Abbey Centre to really deliver on that promise?

UK-EU Trade

18. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to increase trade with the EU.

UK-EU Trade

I wish you a very happy St George’s day, Mr Speaker. The Cities of London and Westminster hold many celebrations for St George’s day. We heard significant movement earlier today regarding energy. What economic assessment has been made beyond food and drink, the youth experience scheme, Erasmus and the emissions trading system to make sure that, at the forthcoming summit, we deliver on our commitments?

Topical Questions

T6. Last week the UK attended the third international conference on the situation in Sudan, with Germany, France, the US, the African Union and the European Union. The Foreign Office reports that 30 million people require humanitarian assistance and that an estimated 130 humanitarian workers have been killed. What did the conference and summit say about humanitarian corridors, which could give us some confidence that there can be humanitarian assistance going forward?