UK ministers rebuff call from Scottish MPs on bank closures

Conservatives were urged to use influence to halt programme

The UK Government has rejected a call from Scottish MPs to use its majority stake in RBS to stop bank closures.

The Scottish Affairs Committee urged the Conservative administration to use its influence to turn the screws on the taxpayer-owned bank, which is shutting up to 62 of its retail sites in its latest cull north of the border.

But in an official response to the committee’s bank closures inquiry, ministers said governments should not intervene in commercial decisions.

Peter Wishart, the chairman of the Commons committee, condemned the failure to act on its recommendations.

“The fact that nothing has been done to reverse the swathe of bank closures further demonstrates the indifference on the part of the UK Government and RBS when it comes to those most affected by their decisions,” the Perthshire SNP MP said. “Rural areas of Scotland, where the loss of a local bank branch is compounded by broadband access issues and lengthy journey times to alternative facilities, deserve better.”

Kirstene Hair, the Scottish Conservative MP, said she fought hard to retain services in her Angus constituency.

She said those closures were an “extremely disappointing move taken for commercial reasons,” adding: “I have left RBS executives in no doubt that any further erosion of Angus services would be completely unacceptable.”

Scottish Labour’s Danielle Rowley said: “It’s really disappointing that the government continues to wash its hands of branch closures.”

The RBS branches that have closed this year include Montrose, Pitlochry, Aberfeldy, Dundee Stobswell, Bridge of Allan, Perth South Street and Dunblane.

Comrie has been given a reprieve so footfall can be independently examined.

The Courier has campaigned against the closures.