Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps (a) his department and (b) its sponsored bodies are taking to (i) develop and (ii) utilise Artificial Intelligence approaches to British Sign Language.

The Department and its sponsored bodies are not currently taking steps to develop or use artificial intelligence approaches to British Sign Language. However, the Department is aware of products that are being developed in this space and at pace. As and when developed and approved for use, the Department would welcome proposals for their assessment for use in the National Health Service based on the cost effectiveness and service and quality improvement.