BANK BRANCHES

That this House recognises the negative impact that bank closures have on small communities and high streets; notes the closure of 500 bank branches in 2014 across the UK; further notes with concern that 1,500 communities in the UK have now lost all bank branches; further recognises the severe limitations of alternatives for many communities, such as mobile, telephone and internet banking; recognises that the Post Office network only provides a partial social function in making many smaller communities viable places to live and work; and calls on the Government to encourage the banking sector to recognise its responsibilities to all communities, rural and urban, in maintaining a broad network which is accessible to both businesses and individuals.