Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to make video relay services available to all universal credit applicants who require them.

Video relay service (VRS) is currently being trialled through the call centres for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Access to Work, as well as by the Access to Work advisers in the Hearing Loss Team. Having been successfully trialled in Personal Independence Payment, DWP are now taking steps to roll out the service to Employment Support Allowance. The service has proved to be popular with DWP customers and has received positive feedback. The VRS trial is continuing to be evaluated and DWP will continue to explore the possibility of offering this service across other areas of DWP.