Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) risk and (b) equality assessments are made of the use of Artificial Intelligence to assess Universal Credit applications.

Where Artificial Intelligence is used to assist its activities in prevention and detection of fraud within UC applications, DWP always ensures appropriate safeguards are in place for the proportionate, ethical, and legal use of data with internal monitoring protocols adhered to.

DWP will not use AI to replace human judgement to determine or deny a payment to a claimant; a human agent will always make final decisions, safeguarding the protection of individuals. Where appropriate Equality and Data Protection Impact Assessments have been carried out.

Both the NAO and ICO, who have looked at this issue recently, found no areas of immediate concern with our use of AI.

DWP’s Personal Information Charter explains how and why we use personal information and citizen’s rights and responsibilities.