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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:16 pm on 11 December 2019.

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Photo of Joyce Watson Joyce Watson Labour 4:16, 11 December 2019

I'm carrying on. 

The Welsh Government has done what it can to plug the gaps. It has given significant support to credit unions—and I'll declare that I'm a member of a credit union—and it has given what money it can to the Post Office network, and it is looking towards, and we've heard it here today, creating a community bank for Wales. I think that's an exciting prospect, and I'm assured that it will help those people who need it, who will be relying on community-based banking to give them some hope of access to cash in their communities. And that's why a UK Labour Government will stop post office closures, and it will bring the Royal Mail back into public ownership. 

This is about public responsibility and accountability in banking, and I'm really pleased that we did this inquiry, and I'm really pleased that we are hoping to move forward together to ensure that we will be able to serve the people who desperately need that.