7. Debate on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee Report: Access to Banking

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:00 pm on 11 December 2019.

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Photo of Bethan Sayed Bethan Sayed Plaid Cymru 4:00, 11 December 2019

That's fine, but that would then put a lot of pressure on them to reach the £20 million. If they are comfortable in knowing that they can do that, past the £600,000, that's perfect. But, I'm merely asking, because of the way that they've responded to our recommendation, where they say that

'it is not at this stage to provide the more significant investment',  it suggests to me that there could be an open door. It doesn't say, 'We would not consider giving any more to Banc Cambria.' That's what I'm trying to understand: would the Government be minded, should Banc Cambria re-approach them for more funding, to be able to discuss that further? If Banc Cambria don't need that money, then obviously we would all be happy knowing that it wouldn't be totally reliant on the Welsh Government.

I'd like to finish by saying that, broadly, I think that we would support that concept. But, of course, we would need to understand how that would impact on the Post Office and the credit union sector, so that we could make sure that the community bank for Wales could be as successful as it could possibly be.