00:00I'd like to request two statements, if I may.
00:04One from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning with regards to rural
00:09banks.
00:10Lloyds Bank have announced a third closure in Brecon and Radnorshire.
00:14They've closed one in Ystradgynlais, one in Prestein, they're intending to close one in
00:17Prestein and another one in Brecon.
00:19Lloyds Bank made a profit of £7.5 billion last year, up from £4.8 billion the year
00:28before.
00:29This is not a bank that is struggling.
00:31This is a bank that owes their communities, banks that meet their needs.
00:36So I'd like to ask the Welsh Government exactly what they're doing in order to ensure that
00:40there is access to cash within our rural communities.
00:44And secondó Jane Dodds, thank you for drawing attention
00:49to the vast profits of Lloyds Bank as banks continue to draw out of our communities, come
00:57out of our communities, closing bank-to-bank branches.
01:01Three hundred and seventy-six bank branches have closed in Wales since January 2015, and
01:08that's such a loss to those highly valued services, and you draw attention particularly
01:13to the needs of people in rural communities.
01:16So we've been championing the specific needs of Welsh communities, looking at accessing
01:22cash and face-to-face banking services.
01:24Of course, now the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy is taking on these responsibilities.
01:30And working, of courseóit's an issue of social justice as well, in terms of access to financial
01:36services and financial inclusion.
01:40We have banking hub roll-outs, and I'm pleased that the UK Government has said they want
01:45to see a network of banking hubs expanded, but also look at our relationships with the
01:53Financial Conduct Authority, Link and Cash Access UK.
01:56They're championing the needs of sections of the population who rely most on accessing
02:01cash and face-to-face banking services.
02:04But also, we are working with many of our banking partners in Wales, those who are responsible
02:16lendersónot just our credit unions, which, of course, are across Wales, but also those
02:22responsible lenders, like the Principality Building Society, who are trialling the One
02:28Bank.
02:29So, we've also done all our work on the community bank as well.
02:33So, Diolch yn fawr, my questionó Y Llywydd ar gwrs, diolch yn fawr i'r Prif Weinidog.
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