CHEQUE PAYMENTS

Early day motion 507, tabled 14 July 2010 by Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 63 members.

That this House notes with concern that high street banks are planning to stop accepting cheques despite protest from consumer groups and businesses; further notes that nearly four million cheques are still being written each day and that many people still prefer to pay for goods and services in this way; is concerned that the Payments Council which represents the major banks voted in December 2009 to scrap the cheque as a method of payment; believes many people, particularly the elderly, would be inconvenienced as a result; calls on the Government to remind the banks that they exist to serve customers and not the other way round; and urges the banks to reconsider their proposal to abolish the cheque.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 17, Conservative 7, DUP 5, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Green 1, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1.