With the leave of the House, we will take motions 7 to 11 together.
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Ordered,
That Damian Hinds and Mrs Heather Wheeler be discharged from the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee and Simon Jupp and Jane Stevenson be added.
Education
That David Johnston and David Simmonds be discharged from the Education Committee and Miriam Cates and Brendan Clarke-Smith be added.
Housing, Communities and Local Government
That Ian Levy be discharged from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee and Matt Vickers be added.
Science and Technology
That Andrew Griffith be discharged from the Science and Technology Committee and Dehenna Davison be added.
Treasury
That Steve Baker be discharged from the Treasury Committee and Gareth Davies be added.—(Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
It is very good to see the hon. Member for North Herefordshire (Bill Wiggin) here in person, instead of on all those screens; lately, I had to see him nine times when we did these motions, so it is lovely to see him only once.
Petition
NatWest Crouch End and Hornsey Branch
This petition relates to the closure of the NatWest bank branch in Crouch End and Hornsey. It notes
“that bank branches have been closing at the rate of fifty a month since 2015…that this has caused huge inconvenience to customers, small businesses and has led to the loss of valued, highly trained staff; further that…8 million people would struggle in a cashless society, particularly elderly, vulnerable people and those on lower incomes…
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider the concerns of the petitioners and take immediate action to ensure that the NatWest Crouch End and Hornsey branch is not closed down.”
Following is the full text of the petition:
[The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that the NatWest Crouch End and Hornsey branch must not be closed; notes that bank branches have been closing at the rate of fifty a month since 2015; declares that this has caused huge inconvenience to customers, small businesses and has led to the loss of valued, highly trained staff; further that over 8 million people would struggle in a cashless society, particularly elderly, vulnerable people and those on lower incomes; further that this relentless programme of branch closures will worsen inequality in our society and further that banks need to use some of their vast profits to show some social responsibility to the communities they serve.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider the concerns of the petitioners and take immediate action to ensure that the NatWest Crouch End and Hornsey branch is not closed down.
And the petitioners remain, etc.]
[P002690]