RURAL BANKING SERVICES

Early day motion 350, tabled 3 February 2000 by Paul Marsden (Labour). Signed by 33 members.

That this House condemns the proposals by Lloyds TSB Bank to close its rural branch in Pontesbury near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, which has approximately 400 customers served by two members of staff; notes that Lloyds TSB proposes to close another six branches in the West Midlands this year; deplores this continuing systematic closure of rural branches by Lloyds TSB and other major banks; recognises that rural branches provide not just important banking services but also a focal point for village life, enabling particularly the elderly, disabled and young easier access to services which would otherwise require them to travel large distances to urban banks; calls upon the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to write to Sir Brian Pitman, Chairman of Lloyds TSB, to urge him to end their rural branch closure programme in Pontesbury, across Shropshire and across the country; and calls upon the Minister for the Cabinet Office to investigate the level of banking services in rural areas and publish the findings as a matter of urgency.

Signatures by party: Labour 20, Liberal Democrat 9, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 2.