The Petrol Retailers Association has joined a coalition of businesses, charities and consumer groups to sign an open letter to Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging the protection of cash as a critical payment method for both consumers and businesses.
With the Government currently consulting on its Future of Payments Review, the signatories of the letter are calling on the Treasury to ensure that cash remains part of the payments mix of the future, given its continued importance to the financially vulnerable, digitally excluded and small businesses.
Signatories acknowledge the Government’s recent release of its cash access policy statement as a positive first step, but emphasise that a more comprehensive effort is required to ensure the robust funding and safeguarding of the UK’s cash network.
As the Financial Conduct Authority proceeds to implement the Government’s plan for cash, the signatories call for a concerted focus on maintaining maximum payment choice and future-proofing of cash as a payment method, through ensuring the ATM network receives the funding it needs.
