Call for Evidence

The Committee is inquiring into whether there is a need in the UK to regulate or mandate the acceptance of physical cash in the form of notes and coins. The inquiry will consider any need for legislation and/or regulation, and potential costs to consumers and businesses.

We would welcome evidence on the following areas:

1. What is the current state of, recent trends in, and forecasts for cash acceptance in the UK?

2. Are there groups in society that disproportionately rely on businesses and public services accepting their cash?

• What challenges do they face? 

3. Should the Government require parts of the economy to always accept cash?

• Are there sectors of the economy where cash acceptance is particularly important and should be protected?

4. What are the practical challenges that businesses might face from having to always accept cash?

• How do these challenges differ between large and small businesses? 

5. What would the costs be, to private firms and the public sector, from any imposed requirements to always accept cash?

6. How might any such requirement for cash acceptance affect financial services firms?

• How would any requirement especially affect business involved in the provision of cash? 

7. Are there any other areas or particular sectors where a decline in cash acceptance would cause problems?

Please note that the Committee is not inquiring into wider questions of access to cash, or the tax implications of maintaining physical cash as a form of payment. The Committee is not able to inquire into individual cases.

The deadline for this submission period is 5pm on Monday 2 December.