13
Deferred
There are gaps in the current distribution of powers and responsibilities.
Conclusion
There are gaps in the current distribution of powers and responsibilities. We asked, for example, who is responsible for monitoring the resilience of the cash machine network and for taking action should part of it fail. The PSR told us that it is responsible for the oversight of the LINK network, which accounts for the free-to-use network of cash machines. The Bank of England is responsible for ensuring the systemically important pieces of the infrastructure are both financially and technically resilient though this might not include every element of the network.35 The PSR told us that it and the Bank are comfortable with the current position of the network. The PSR told us, however, that a further move to a low cash use economy might raise questions about sustainability and that additional legislation and requirements might be needed.36 Similarly, when we asked the FCA what it is doing to monitor trends in the acceptance of cash it pointed out that the cash as used by supermarkets, retailers and so on went beyond its normal remit of financial services companies.37 For the cash system as a whole we could find no single organisation currently responsible for monitoring and reporting how well the system is continuing to meet the needs of consumers and businesses.38 32 Q 69; C&AG’s Report, para 7 & 10 33 Q 69 34 HM Treasury, Access to Cash: Call for Evidence, October 2020, paras 6.8, 6.9 35 Q 60 36 Q 61 37 Q 42 38 Q 76; C&AG’s Report, para 13 12 The production and distribution of cash 2 Cash production
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the implicit recommendation to address the lack of a single organisation responsible for monitoring the cash system. It reiterates its proposal from the Call for Evidence to give a single authority, potentially the FCA, overall responsibility, but defers action to set out next steps after considering responses.
Government Response
Deferred
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2021 3.2 The government aims to ensure that the authorities have the appropriate powers and responsibilities to oversee the cash system efficiently and effectively. The Bank of England, FCA, PSR, and HM Treasury each have roles and responsibilities for the cash system. 3.3 The government’s Call for Evidence on Access to Cash stated that there may be significant benefit in giving a single authority overall responsibility for setting requirements to ensure that the retail distribution of cash meets the needs of consumers and small and medium sized enterprises. Furthermore, it set out the government’s view that the FCA may be well positioned to take on this function through legislation. The government is considering the responses and will seek to set out its next steps in due course.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
Thirtieth Report - The production and distribution of cash
04 Dec 2020
HC 654
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
5.6 yrs
Report published
04 Dec 2020