Payday loans companies banned from advertising on Swansea Council library computers
Swansea Council has banned payday loan companies from advertising on its library computers.
The move is part of the council's policy to deal with high interest loans targeting those in vulnerable communities, with leaflets containing contact information for other agencies that can help being placed in library buildings.
Swansea East MP Sian James has welcomed the move, along with councillor Mitch Theaker, cabinet member for young people, who told the South Wales Evening Post: "All too often our advice teams and debt advice organisations we work with hear stories from people who thought a payday loan was the answer to their finance problems, only to learn that it was not. By helping people tackle this problem we are challenging a major stress on families."
Theaker added that that helping those in need access impartial advice and fair lending was the best way to break the cycle of debt.
A spokesperson for James said she "fully supports anything which limits payday loan companies' influence" calling them "as much a cause of debt as a solution".
The Labour administration has already set up an anti-poverty unit in the area and offers ongoing support to local credit unions.