Save Our Cheque

Cheques have been in use for over 300 years in the UK and in 2009 they were used to transfer £1.9 trillion. Across the country 1/3 of all people still regularly use cheques and 75% use the cheque facility with their bank accounts. In December 2009 the Payments Council - representing the major high street banks - set a target date of 2018 for the closure of central cheque clearing. Apparently the banks stand to gain £200 million a year by phasing out cheques. But I understand that cheques are a bit of a pain to bank staff; but most jobs have a task that people don't particularly enjoy doing but they just have to get on with it. As they are still a popular way of making a payment I would hate to think that one of the reasons for their abolition was just because bank staff finds them an inconvenience.

Apparently, in 2018 when cheques are due to be phased out there will still be 2 billion of them issued every day and they will be used to transfer £600 billion every year. The Payments Council mentions providers of alternative payment methods such as PayPal. This can only be accessed on the internet and the decision will have major ramifications for disabled, elderly and housebound, as well as charities and small businesses. 64% of people aged over 65 have never used the internet.

The Save Our Cheque campaign is backed by the consumer group Which?, the Union Unite, Age UK, the RNIB, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Fundraisers.

Although nationally this is a LibDem initiative there is nothing politically controversial about it and I would like to see in this Council, cross party agreement and support the motion. I won't waste any more of the members' time reading the motion Mr Mayor, I move it.

Mr Mayor

Since I was elected I have tried to support every Mayoral event, however for one reason or another I have not been able to this year so to ease my conscience Mr Mayor I would like to make a donation in the form of a cheque which I will hand over to you at the end of this meeting.