Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has to introduce a texting service for the public to contact or respond to helpline services to government departments and agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Government develops services based on research into user needs. Services do not go public unless they can demonstrate during Service Assessment that they have met user needs in line with the Digital Service Standard, including methods for user support and contact. Where Government has a shared need, the Government Digital Service can develop products that can be reused across departments and agencies. For example, GOV.UK Notify was developed to make it easier and more efficient to keep people updated, by helping service teams across government to send text messages, emails or letters to their users. We do not currently have plans to develop a texting service for users to contact or respond to helpline services.