Public Services: Online Communications

Baroness Hollins Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hollins (CB)]

My Lords, of the 11 million people who do not have the essential digital skills for life, more than half are disabled people, and the barriers created by digital approaches everywhere increase the barriers that disabled people face. What steps do the Government take specifically to ensure that the NHS app is accessible to people who have learning and communication difficulties and to ensure that NHS services are still available to those who cannot use digital means of communication?

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

I thank the noble Baroness. As I mentioned earlier, we are not closing off any of the options available, whether that is the voice-activated system or speaking to a human being. The option is still there. We know that millions of people in the UK are still unable to take part in this increasingly digital society and we recognise that digital exclusion falls hardest on disabled people. That is why this Government are committed to improving digital inclusion for everybody. In August, we launched a £9.5 million digital inclusion innovation fund, which supports community projects across the country and helps people build the skills and confidence they need to get online.