Topical Questions

Part of Business, Innovation and Skills – in the House of Commons at 10:30 am on 8 July 2010.

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Photo of Vincent Cable Vincent Cable The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 10:30, 8 July 2010

I do share my hon. Friend's concerns. As she knows, the decision originated last June with the Payments Council, which is an independent body. The decision was based on the fact that there had been a dramatic fall in cheque use, from 11 million a day in 1990 to 3.5 million. However, the Government recognise that there are large numbers of individuals, small companies and charities for whom the cheque is an extremely important way of making transactions. The Payments Council is an independent body, but we are trying to ensure that it has alternatives in place, so that people are not greatly disadvantaged by the change.