Yesterday Lothian MSP Gordon Lindhurst cross-examined the Scottish Government in the Scottish Parliament on its action to tackle the dearth of bank branches now facing Scotland’s communities and town centres.
It comes following recent announcements by a number of high street banks that branches are set to close, on top of those that already have. Communities are speaking out, in particular in the interests of elderly and disabled customers as well as small businesses that depend on cash facilities.
Gordon is part of the campaign group in Juniper Green, where the local Royal Bank of Scotland branch is to close in June, following nearby bank branch closures in Currie, Fairmilehead, Colinton and Riccarton.
He questioned the Government about what work it is doing to ensure at least a basic level of banking provision in communities and town centres, pointing to commitments made by the SNP in its 2016 manifesto to explore the potential for promoting further community banking options in Scotland, including encouraging and supporting other providers of services where current services are neither accessible nor affordable. In his question Gordon asked the Scottish Government whether it would “commit to working with local community groups, such as in Juniper Green in Edinburgh, in order to explore options and viable alternatives for a continuation of banking services following the recent raft of branch closures?”
The Scottish Government responded through Minister Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Innovation, Business and Energy, who said during the exchanges on the issue that the Government could do more work on the issue and would look at alternative options for particularly vulnerable groups, giving an undertaking that he would look into these in Members’ respective constituencies.
Speaking after the response to his question, Gordon said:
“The SNP have been clear before about the importance of banking to communities. Local residents that I speak to in Lothian are worried, especially elderly and disabled people, some of whom can’t use online facilities or travel long distances. These closures also affect small businesses, as the Federation of Small Businesses has pointed out.”
The SNP promised to look at community solutions. Now is the time to step up as the issue has come sharply into focus in recent months. I hope for the sake of communities in Lothian and beyond that the Government can work with campaign groups to ensure that large swathes of society are not left behind. Ensuring a continuation of bank facilities in communities requires a strong Government voice and I hope the Minister will follow through on what he said to encourage diversity and local presence in the banking sector.”
https://www.gordonlindhurst.com/news/lindhurst-presses-scottish-governm…