Thank you. Can I thank the Member for his kind comment? 

Back in March 2016, we set out how the Welsh Government aspires to join with partner organisations, both within Wales and at the UK level, in working towards a more financially inclusive society in Wales. Digital inclusion remains a key social justice and equality issue. Those who personally do not use or are limited users of digital technology are missing out on access to information, to services, to better deals and to cheaper goods and financial security. Our digital inclusion framework and delivery plan recognises that becoming fully digitally included is a continuous process, requiring ongoing support. This is an issue that Welsh Government cannot tackle alone and one that requires the buy-in of all partners and of wider society. 

Now, there are many barriers to accessing online services: a lack of skills, access and motivation, particularly for those on low incomes, older people and people who face disabling barriers in society. Digitally excluded customers are often the most financially excluded, so they should not be penalised further by the inevitable shift to more digital services.

I know many banks are involved in digital inclusion activities and, indeed, Digital Communities Wales has worked with Lloyds, Barclays and Nat West to better co-ordinate digital inclusion activities across communities. However, banks should help ensure their customers have the opportunities to gain the confidence and digital skills to access the full range of banking services that they need, and provide alternative measures for those who cannot or will not use online services.

Access to fast and reliable broadband is, of course, increasingly a necessity, including to provide access to banking services, and Superfast Cymru has provided more than 733,000 premises with access to fast broadband. It has transformed the digital landscape across Wales, and none of these premises would have received access to fast, reliable broadband without our intervention. In addition, local development plans can address a wide range of issues concerning the development and use of land, including infrastructure needs. LDPs can include policies to support cash infrastructure where it relates to the development and use of land.

Now, the type of detailed design policies affecting ATMs are, for example, ensuring that they are sensitively placed in relation to listed buildings, or positioned so that queues do not affect highway safety. These are matters that local planning authorities routinely deal with already in LDPs, and are not something Welsh Government should need to support them in drafting.

Whilst it's recommended that banks will continue to close their branches that are not commercially viable, we feel that banks have a commitment to mitigate the effects of bank closures in communities right across Wales. They need to ensure the transition is managed so that vulnerable people are not excluded and customers are still able to access banking products in their local community.

In closing, I'd like to reaffirm my commitment to a more financially inclusive society in Wales. The committee report has highlighted a number of areas that we will need to consider over the next few months, and I'm pleased that we are already progressing areas that will help to mitigate the damaging effects of bank closures and difficulties with access to banking.