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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:29 pm on 11 December 2019.

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Photo of Russell George Russell George Conservative 4:29, 11 December 2019

Well, as a committee we certainly felt that the banks do have a social responsibility, and they should be playing that role. I'll come on perhaps to address that a little bit more as well.

But there are some specific challenges in terms of the kind of resources that will be needed by Banc Cambria, and that was raised by a number of contributors—Bethan and Hefin I think made that point. So, we're very keen to not let this go as a committee. We want to examine very carefully as the Cambria bank develops. I think Jack Sargeant pointed out as well how quickly we want this to come about. But there is also a need to perhaps understand some of the real challenges there are with developing Banc Cambria, and we certainly want to look at this in more detail, I think, as Vikki pointed out as well.

David Rowlands—I thank David for his contribution. David highlighted the point that, why we are where we are is because of falling numbers. People are less likely to use the bank. Footfall has fallen. That's the obvious point that perhaps I didn't say and others didn't say. That's why we are where we are. But the bank, of course, tell us that that's the reason and everyone can go online, but the point here is that everyone can't go online, which is the point that he went on to make—there are some people who cannot, for whatever reason, either they have not got connectivity, they have not got the skills, or there are security issues that they're concerned about. And for a range of reasons, people aren't ready to do that, and we aren't yet ready to move to that position that the banks so readily want us to move to.

I think also, in terms of the Minister's response to our piece of work, much of this is, I think, reserved, but it's also critical to people in Wales. So, I think the committee would really welcome more detail on the outcome of the Welsh engagement with JACS and how that translates into action. We also want to see that it's important to continue to explore all avenues, especially as it's not quite clear how Banc Cambria can meet the needs of people that are older, disabled—vulnerable customers who need appropriate action and face-to-face services. And I think it was Joyce Watson who pointed out that we don't know exactly what Banc Cambria is going to look like yet. Is it going to be a bank that operates face-to-face services, or is it just going to be a bank where you can go in and see more technology?