Vale MP joins battle to save the cheque from extinction (From Evesham Journal)

Vale MP joins battle to save the cheque from extinction

3:37pm Wednesday 2nd December 2009

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A CROSS party motion to save the cheque has won the backing of the local MP and parliamentary candidate.

Both the conservative Mid-Worcestershire MP, Peter Luff, and West-Worcestershire liberal democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt, have thrown their weight behind MP Mark Hunter’s Early Day Motion that banks should reconsider their proposals to abolish the cheque.

Banks intend to vote this month on whether to scrap the cheque as a method of payment.

Addressing the House of Commons last Thursday, Mr Hunter, a liberal democrat, said: “This House notes with concern that high street banks are planning to stop accepting cheques despite protest from consumer groups and businesses; further notes that nearly four million cheques are still being written each day and that many people still prefer to pay for goods and services in this way.

“Many people, particularly the elderly, would be inconvenienced as a result.

“This House calls upon the government to remind the banks that they exist to serve customers, not the other way round.”

As a select committee chairman with a responsibility for consumer policy, Mr Luff hoped his views would carry some way.

He said: “There is still a lot of uses for which the cheque is very important indeed.

“There will come a time when the cheque will have to go, but not yet. That time is still a long way off.”

Mr Burt, who as a parliamentary candidate is unable to sign the motion, agreed.

He said: “This development is most unwelcome in its own right, but taken together with the news on bank charges I think it amounts to nothing less than an insult to the British public.“ People can add their weight to the campaign by visiting the Number 10 website and signing the Save the Cheque petition.

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