Cash is incredibly important to many. No one should have to trek for hours to withdraw a tenner to put in someone’s birthday card – nor should businesses have to travel large distances to deposit cash takings. Even when most transactions are digital, it is a vital backstop knowing that physical notes and coins are there if needed. Last Friday, as the Minister responsible, I announced new regulations to protect cash, making clear the vast majority of people in the UK should have a free to use cash machine within one mile of where they live. In rural areas, it should be no more than three miles. Importantly – if a service is proposed to be withdrawn – the replacement service should be put in place before it is taken away. No more ‘close first and look at alternatives later’ which is what too many communities have faced.
Any parent who read about the case of killer nurse Lucy Letby will have been filled with horror for what those poor infants and their parents went through. Whilst clearly an exceptional case, it raises troubling questions about how open the culture in the NHS is to being challenged. Clinical staff reported being ‘fobbed off’ by mangers when they raised concerns. Aside from this particular case, that is the general point I hope the enquiry will address.
Finally, in a couple of weeks’ time, I am hosting a special event for Ukrainians here under the UK Government’s successful ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme. I have had a good take up of our Ukrainian guests and their kind UK hosts, but it is slightly hard to reach this disparate group and I don’t want to accidently leave anyone out. If you know a local host family or their Ukrainian guests, please do ask them to email my office for details.
