Why are MPs debating the acceptance of cash?

Petitions Committee Survey

Before the debate, the Petitions Committee launched a survey to ask petitioners and others for their experience of businesses accepting cash payments, and whether they know anyone else who prefers to use cash.

The results were shared with MPs ahead of the debate.

There were 18,691 responses to the Committee’s survey.

The vast majority of respondents said they prefer to use cash rather than other forms of payment:

98% of respondents said they agree with the ask of the petitions for all shops and services to be required to accept cash.

95% of respondents said they prefer to use cash to pay for things instead of other means of payment.

92% of respondents aged 75+ said they prefer to use cash, compared with 52% of respondents aged under 16.

Respondents spoke about the inconvenience of having cash refused, and their feelings of embarrassment or anxiety as a result:

88% of respondents said having their cash refused has a ‘large’ or ‘moderate’ impact on them.

“It is not always made clear when you go into a shop whether or not they will accept cash. This can cause anxiety as it is not known until point of sale whether you will have your payment method rejected or not.” Survey respondent

“I have not been able to buy some pasties from a pasty shop […] as they don't take cash. It's embarrassing as I have to say I don't want them then. Also, a public house […] so I could not get anything to eat or drink. It has a terrible effect on your whole life, it makes you very sad and depressed.” Survey respondent

Some respondents told us they had physical or mental health problems that made it difficult to use alternative forms of payment. These included bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depression, arthritis, visual impairment, cognitive disability, and stroke:

8% of respondents said they had physical or mental health issues that make it difficult to use alternative forms of payment.

“I am bipolar. In a manic phase I once racked up thousands of pounds of debt and this caused my family hardship. My psychiatrist proscribed that during a manic phase I only be allowed cash to prevent a recurrence. It has been a lifesaver for my husband.” Survey respondent

“Arthritis in [my] fingers make it difficult to press small buttons and take out my card some days. If I forget my glasses I can't see the numbers, frequently forget the [pin] number due to cognitive dysfunction which can be worse due to anxiety." Survey respondent

You can read the full summary of responses on our website.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffith MP responded to the debate. He said:

"I […] commend the many members of the public who signed the e-petitions to rightly raise this important issue here, in the home of democracy, where it falls to us to resolve these matters.

"Cash has many virtues, and I assure Members that the Government recognise the role played by cash when other technologies fail and the real concerns regarding privacy and the potential, in a cashless society, for states to control freedom of speech.

"However, we should also recognise that despite its many virtues, cash is expensive to handle, can be subject to theft and can make businesses—particularly small businesses in the rural areas we have heard a lot from today—feel vulnerable and potentially targeted by criminals.

"I have followed this debate extremely closely so, to be clear, let me say for the Government that there is no plan, no drive and no conspiracy to eliminate cash.

"This Government continue to support the ability of citizens to use cash as an alternative to digital payments, and I am proud that the Government are taking legislative steps to support the use of cash well into the foreseeable future.

"I am clear that it is not the Government’s position […] that we will mandate cash acceptance on retailers or public services."