THE Scottish Parliament will debate the closure of RBS branches across Scotland, including three in North Ayrshire.

Last month we exclusively revealed that the Saltcoats, Kilwinning and Kilbirnie bases of the bank would be shutting next June, much to the anger and dismay of politicians, locals and bank users.

Tomorrow (Thursday December 14) Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson will participate in a Scottish Parliament debate on Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) plans to shut 259 branches across the UK in June, including 62 in Scotland.

A total of 680 people will lose their jobs as a result of the closures and Kenneth Gibson said: “Having been the first to raise this latest round of RBS closures at Holyrood, during First Minister’s Questions on November 30, I am glad that MSP colleagues of all parties will be able to share our anger at RBS abandoning so many local communities and urge a rethink.

“It is a shocking decision and miniscule savings, if any, will be made. The properties being vacated are unlikely to be in demand. Towns across Scotland are littered with empty banks. Well-advertised promises made by RBS not to close a branch if it was the last one in a community have proven meaningless and there was no attempt to engage customers and staff before closure decisions were taken, despite a code of conduct which makes clear that they should.

“To add insult to injury, Les Matheson, head of retail banking for RBS, was paid a bonus of £1.2 million last year. That and the £16 million paid in bonuses to other RBS executives could keep a fair few branches open.

“RBS is 72.9 per cent owned by the UK taxpayer and it is simply unacceptable for RBS to continue treating customers as an irritation and an inconvenience. No account has been taken of the public interest in considering these closures. The UK Government need to act. It was the taxes paid by people in towns like Kilbirnie, Kilwinning and Saltcoats that saved RBS and that investment deserves recognition, not least by retaining their high street banks.”

Business Minister in the SNP Government Paul Wheelhouse added: “Westminster must use its majority shareholding to act in the interests of customers, staff, businesses and communities affected by these closures and we will certainly support any efforts in Scotland to preserve the existing RBS branch network.”