Schedule 8: Cash access services Part 1 – New Part 8B of FSMA 2000 Cash access policy statement Section 131P: Cash access policy statement
This section requires HM Treasury to set out a policy statement and describes the contents and process relating to such a policy statement. This enables HM Treasury to set out its policy with regards to access to cash withdrawal and deposit services, which the FCA must have regard to when exercising its functions to protect access to cash (see subsection 131U(2)).
	Subsection (1) provides that HM Treasury must prepare a cash access policy statement.
	Subsection (2) defines a policy statement as a statement of the government’s policies for cash access services in the United Kingdom, or a part of the United Kingdom.
	Subsection (2A) clarifies that reference to "cash access services" in subsection (2) includes free cash access services. This ensures that the cash access policy statement that HM Treasury must prepare under this Part, includes policies concerning free cash access services.
	Subsection (3) provides that the policy statement may state policies in relation to cash deposit and withdrawal services, services provided in relation to current accounts of different descriptions (for example personal and business current accounts) and services provided in urban and rural areas, among other things.
	Subsection (4) provides that when preparing a policy statement under this section HM Treasury must consult the FCA and have regard to any report provided to it by the FCA (see section 131Q).
	Subsections (5) and (6) provide that HM Treasury must publish a cash access policy statement in a manner that it thinks fit, and must keep the statement under review and may prepare a revised statement.