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| Shops and firms will not be forced to accept cash | Shops and firms will not be forced to accept cash |
| (14 days later) | |
| Shops and service firms will not be compelled to accept cash, a government minister has said, despite concerns that millions of vulnerable people rely on it. | Shops and service firms will not be compelled to accept cash, a government minister has said, despite concerns that millions of vulnerable people rely on it. |
| Emma Reynolds, the new economic secretary to the Treasury, was pressed on coffee shops, trains and leisure centres excluding people by no longer accepting cash. | Emma Reynolds, the new economic secretary to the Treasury, was pressed on coffee shops, trains and leisure centres excluding people by no longer accepting cash. |
| But she told MPs on the Treasury Committee that there was no chance of the UK becoming cash-free anytime soon. | But she told MPs on the Treasury Committee that there was no chance of the UK becoming cash-free anytime soon. |
| She said the government was concentrating on ensuring everyone had access to cash, such as through new banking hubs, and on improving people's digital skills. | She said the government was concentrating on ensuring everyone had access to cash, such as through new banking hubs, and on improving people's digital skills. |
| Cash is legal tender in the UK, but businesses are not obliged to serve people who only want to pay with notes and coins. | Cash is legal tender in the UK, but businesses are not obliged to serve people who only want to pay with notes and coins. |
| Some countries, such as Australia, are planning rules that would force essential services to accept cash. | Some countries, such as Australia, are planning rules that would force essential services to accept cash. |
| But Ms Reynolds effectively ruled out such a move in the UK. | But Ms Reynolds effectively ruled out such a move in the UK. |
| "We have no plans to regulate businesses - big or small - to compel them to accept cash," she said. | "We have no plans to regulate businesses - big or small - to compel them to accept cash," she said. |
| She said the UK was "not anywhere near" being a cashless society, with convenience stores planning to accept notes and coins for years. But she said tackling digital exclusion was still key for those who might struggle. | She said the UK was "not anywhere near" being a cashless society, with convenience stores planning to accept notes and coins for years. But she said tackling digital exclusion was still key for those who might struggle. |
| Members of the committee pointed to evidence they had received from victims of domestic and economic abuse who said they only had an escape route with cash. | Members of the committee pointed to evidence they had received from victims of domestic and economic abuse who said they only had an escape route with cash. |
| Even after getting away, some found they were unable to pay for their children's school dinners with cash. | Even after getting away, some found they were unable to pay for their children's school dinners with cash. |
| Card payments dominate ways of paying, and consumers are increasingly using their smartphones to pay for things. | Card payments dominate ways of paying, and consumers are increasingly using their smartphones to pay for things. |
| However, notes and coins were used in a fifth of shop transactions last year, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), as shoppers found cash helped them to budget better. | However, notes and coins were used in a fifth of shop transactions last year, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), as shoppers found cash helped them to budget better. |
| It was the second year in a row that cash use in shops had risen following a decade of falls. | It was the second year in a row that cash use in shops had risen following a decade of falls. |
| 'Two-tier society' | 'Two-tier society' |
| Recommendations will be made in the coming weeks from the Treasury Committee after its inquiry into the acceptance of cash. | Recommendations will be made in the coming weeks from the Treasury Committee after its inquiry into the acceptance of cash. |
| Ms Reynolds' evidence was the final session, but earlier they heard from disadvantaged people who still rely on paying with cash. | Ms Reynolds' evidence was the final session, but earlier they heard from disadvantaged people who still rely on paying with cash. |
| Speaking to the BBC after giving evidence, Constantine Louis said he wanted choice over ways to pay. | Speaking to the BBC after giving evidence, Constantine Louis said he wanted choice over ways to pay. |
| "For older people, when they use cash, they feel as though they are in control," said the 84-year-old, who lives in a one-bedroom flat. | "For older people, when they use cash, they feel as though they are in control," said the 84-year-old, who lives in a one-bedroom flat. |
| "Young people will get older one day and may have the same problems we have - they may start forgetting their Pin numbers. | "Young people will get older one day and may have the same problems we have - they may start forgetting their Pin numbers. |
| "For those who get on the bus and pay with their mobile - that's fine with me. But I can't do it. I don't know how to do it." | "For those who get on the bus and pay with their mobile - that's fine with me. But I can't do it. I don't know how to do it." |
| Caroline Cawley, from Edinburgh, has a disability and said every penny counted in her life. | Caroline Cawley, from Edinburgh, has a disability and said every penny counted in her life. |
| "Cash is important for budgeting reasons, mainly," the 41-year-old said after giving evidence. | "Cash is important for budgeting reasons, mainly," the 41-year-old said after giving evidence. |
| "It is much easier to keep tabs of what you've got if you have it physically in your purse." | "It is much easier to keep tabs of what you've got if you have it physically in your purse." |
| She said digital payments risked her going overdrawn, and facing unmanageable interest and fees as a result. | She said digital payments risked her going overdrawn, and facing unmanageable interest and fees as a result. |
| Failure to accept cash, which was the case if she wanted to go for a swim at her local leisure centre, was creating "a two-tier society", she said. | Failure to accept cash, which was the case if she wanted to go for a swim at her local leisure centre, was creating "a two-tier society", she said. |