A government review examining access to banking services has received a substantial number of responses, with over 15,000 people submitting feedback in the three weeks since its launch. This initiative follows a decade marked by the closure of nearly 7,000 bank branches, with hundreds more scheduled to close this year.
Richard Lloyd, former Director at the consumer group Which?, is leading the review. He recently gave his first interview since taking on the role.
In other government-related news, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) must learn from its mistakes after incorrectly suspending child benefit payments for thousands of claimants last year, according to a report published this week by the National Audit Office. This error occurred during the rollout of a pilot scheme intended to reduce the hundreds of millions of pounds lost annually to fraud and error in child benefit claims.
Additionally, individuals born on June 27, 1960, are the youngest eligible to receive the Winter Fuel Payment this year, as the qualifying date has been moved to three months earlier than usual.
Finally, a VAT cut has been implemented on summer attractions catering to children, including theme parks and fast-food establishments, with various discounts now available.