Welsh Government Committee Says Cashless Businesses Are Discriminatory
Jul 3, 2024
A report issued by the Welsh Government’s Petitions Committee for Learning Disabilities Week (17–23 June) says people are being excluded from daily activities such as shopping by businesses that refuse cash payments.
Wrexham.com says the Petitions Committee is calling for government action to require all organisations that receive public funding to accept cash payments, and ensure that everyone who wishes to use cash can do so. It added that many businesses are introducing cashless policies in response to the loss of local banks in which they can deposit cash, indicating a need for wider banking support to support cash-friendly policies.
The Committee’s report was prompted by a petition from Mencap Cymru, an organisation that supports people with learning disabilities, calling for an inquiry into the struggles faced by people excluded from making digital payments.
We were especially concerned that public bodies—which have a duty to act in a non-discriminatory way—such as Welsh Government and local government, aren’t by accident discriminating by funding organisations to discriminate against people with a learning disability by refusing to take cash.
The Committee also recommends clearer signage at businesses that do not accept cash payments, ‘to reduce some of the embarrassing and upsetting experiences faced by people with learning disabilities when they are told they cannot pay with cash and must leave the premises.’ It heard testimony from affected individuals and their families, including one case in which the police were called in response to an individual becoming distressed when they could not purchase a magazine with cash.
We have all noticed the shift to cashless transactions in recent years, but what is less obvious is the unintended consequences of this. It’s clear that refusing cash payments excludes people with learning disabilities from accessing services and buying goods.
The Committee also suggests the government commissions research to explore the challenges faced by those who do not use digital payments. ‘In addition to people with learning disabilities, this should also include people who have no bank account, or those who choose to only use cash to avoid falling into debt.’
A formal response from the Welsh Government is expected in August.