Scrapping cheques will hurt Norfolk’s small
businesses and the elderly
Trevor Ivory raises concerns that plans to abolish cheques will hit elderly people and
small businesses hard.
North Norfolk’s Conservative Candidate, Trevor Ivory, has raised concerns about the
news that the banking industry plans to abolish cheques by 2018. Whilst the number of
cheques being used is declining rapidly, Mr Ivory has warned that for many elderly people
and small businesses, they are still an important means of payment.
Mr Ivory, who has long championed the rights of older people, said, “Many elderly
people in rural areas find it increasingly difficult to access financial services. Because
of Gordon Brown’s Post Office closure programme, fewer people can now get to their
local Post Office easily to withdraw cash and there are very few bank branches left in
North Norfolk outside of the main towns. For elderly people who cannot easily reach the
nearest bank using a cheque book is sometimes their only option – especially because
many of them are nervous about using credit and debit cards and having to remember a pin
number.”
Mr Ivory is not the only person concerned about the impact of the decision on older
people. Andrew Harrop of Age Concern and Help the Aged said that the UK Payments Council,
which has made the decision, "needs to urgently come up with some practical
alternatives to replace cheques or it will be condemning thousands of older people to
extra worry, cost and financial insecurity."
But Mr Ivory is not just concerned about the impact on older people, he is also worried
about the effect on the local economy, “The decision will also be harmful to
businesses. For many of our small rural businesses the costs associated with having the
equipment to deal with debit and credit cards is too high and many businesses have told me
that cheques are still an important way for their customers to pay, particularly
businesses that rely on mail order – something that is quite common in this
area.”
Mr Ivory has written to the Prime Minister asking him to make sure that banks do not
stop issuing cheque books until the public can be sure that acceptable alternatives are in
place that work for older people and small businesses as well as the big banks. |
23rd February 2010
St Andrews Church Hall, Sheringham
13:00 to 15:30 and 16:30 to 19:00
A new start to the New Year
The National Blood Service (NBS) - part of NHS Blood and Transplant - is
asking people to spare an hour of their time in 2010 to donate blood.
Fay Simcox from NHSBT said "The need for blood never stops. Now Christmas is over and
things are beginning to quieten down we are urging people to come along to their nearest
blood session to give a donation." A single donation can be broken into three
component parts (red cells, plasma and platelets) which means that your one donation can
help save or improve the lives of up to three people.
Blood stocks are used up in a matter of days so the NBS counts on people continuing to
step forward to donate blood. Certain blood products only have a shelf life of five days
so the NBS need to constantly renew their stocks. Fay Simcox continued: "We are
very grateful to donors who continually come forward year after year to help save lives.
It is an altruistic act and we hope others follow in their footsteps. Why not make 2010 a
year of giving and pledge to give at least one donation?"
The NBS needs to collect 7,000 donations of blood each day to supply hospitals in England
and north Wales with the blood products needed to treat patients. Blood is used for a
wide-range of medical procedures including cancer care, general surgery, in maternity care
and for accident and emergency situations. Anyone aged between 17-65, weighing more
than 50 kg (7 stone 12lbs) and in general good health could potentially start saving lives
by becoming a blood donor. There is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the
last two years. To book an appointment call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk |
