The top priority of the Payment Choice Alliance is to ensure the British public get the Payment Choice they deserve.
How do the Alliance know what the British public believe they deserve?
WE ASKED THEM.
YouGov conducted a survey on behalf of the Payment Choice Alliance in early June 2023.
That survey revealed that only 3% of the UK adult population have stopped using cash entirely. This in turn means than over 50 million adults continue to use cash.
So cash remains of great interest to the vast majority of the British public.
The survey also told us that 88% of the public do NOT support the UK becoming a so-called “cashless” society.
And how about a UK Payment Choice Act?
The survey confirmed that 71% of the British public want a law put in place to guarantee they cash can use their cash, where and when they choose.
And that law is what the Payment Choice Alliance will work very hard to deliver!
The Payment Choice Alliance was very busy at the 2024 Labour Party Conference!
It was a GREAT event for the Alliance, with so many people supporting Payment Choice. And one of them was the Secretary of State for Scotland and Cabinet Member, Ian Murray. Ian is definitely against “cashless”, believing cash continues to have a vital role to play in the British economy - and for the British public. It’s wonderful to have a Payment Choice supporter in the Cabinet, at the heart of the British government.
Watch the video to get all of Ian Murray’s views!
An excellent session of the Treasury Committee on 4 December, as the committee started their vital inquiry into cash acceptance.
The committee was superbly chaired by Dame Meg Hillier – and every MP on the committee made a very positive contribution.
Ron Delnevo of the PCA was joined on the panel of expert witnesses by Christopher Brooks, Head of Policy, Age UK; Wayne Crocker, Director, Mencap Cymru; Deidre Cartwright, Public Affairs and Policy Manager, Surviving Economic Abuse; and Conor D'Arcy, Deputy Chief Executive, Money and Mental Health Policy Institute.
All those on the panel had important points to make about the importance of cash in general and cash acceptance in particular.
Ron pointed out to the committee that cash is NOT a fringe issue. 81% of British adults surveyed in September 2024 – that amounts to over 45 million people – had made clear that they want to continue to have the option to use cash. Those who WANT to use cash far outnumber those who NEED to use cash, though many groups of people who NEED to use cash certainly need special consideration.
The MPs on the committee seemed very supportive, with several noting that there is little point having good cash access if cash cannot be spent in shops and other businesses.
There was a particularly strong feeling amongst many present - both MPs and witnesses - that organisations receiving funding from national and local government should be obligated to welcome all, including cash users.
The committee reports in February 2025. Let’s hope that their report strongly points the government towards introducing legislation to guarantee cash acceptance next year!