Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans his Department has to help ensure that public services are available to (a) individuals and (b) households without internet access.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone has affordable access to public services, whether online or offline.

All new public services therefore must adhere to the Government Service Standards, which require Departments to provide a service that meets the needs of all users, across a range of channels. These channels include phone, paper, and face-to-face as options for both individuals or households that do not have access to the internet, or lack the confidence to use it.

Service teams are required to provide evidence that their service meets these standards, as part of which they undertake rigorous user testing for both online and offline services.