Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he (a) has had and (b) plans to have with Cabinet colleagues on (i) accessible and (ii) affordable offline access to nationally-provided public services.

In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone has affordable access to public services, whether online or offline. Government departments are required by the Government's Service Standard to provide support via alternative channels for all their online services. Every service on GOV.UK must fulfil a requirement that is confirmed through service assessments.

The Service Standard requires government teams to make sure that services are accessible to all users, including disabled people, people with other legally protected characteristics, people who do not have access to the internet and/or lack the skills and/or confidence to use the internet.

Point 3 of the Service Standard requires Departments to provide a joined-up service that meets users’ needs across all channels, including online, phone, paper and face to face. Point 5 of the Service Standard requires Departments to make sure everyone can use the service.