Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the elderly can access Government services that (a) have been and (b) are due to become digitalised.

The Government is committed to ensuring that assistance is always available for those who need it. Departments are required by the Service Standard to provide support to users via alternative channels for their services, where it is required, and the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) assures this via a service assessment process.

CDDO provides guidance for Government teams and departments to consider assisted digital support for users who may lack trust in online services or the internet; confidence to use an online service themselves; access to the internet; digital skills; and, motivation to overcome these barriers on their own (https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/helping-people-to-use-your-service/assisted-digital-support-introduction).