Details of the specific special aides/equipment an individual claims payment for is stored as descriptive free-text information and would require manual examination of individual applications to analyse and to provide it would incur a disproportionate cost.

Details of the specific special aides/equipment an individual claims payment for is stored as descriptive free-text information and would require manual examination of individual applications to analyse and to provide it would incur a disproportionate cost.

No assessment has been made of the levels of employment in (a) software and (b) computer industries.

However, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) does publish employment by industry which includes the Information & Communication industrial sector here: EMP13: Employment by industry - Office for National Statistics and EMP14: Employees and self-employed by industry - Office for National Statistics.

The ONS also publishes employment estimates from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information by industry here: Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information, seasonally adjusted - Office for National Statistics.

The Your Apprenticeship App has been developed with input from apprentices to ensure it meets their needs. The app allows apprentices to track their progress throughout their apprenticeship journey and to record evidence of their knowledge, skills and experience required to demonstrate occupational competency. As of 14 October, there have been almost 60,000 downloads and over 285,000 page views by users of the app.

The first phase of development is the minimum viable service, and this is being rolled out through a gradual onboarding of users as government continues to develop, test and enhance the functionality available.

In early testing the government identified a subset of users on the Android platform who could not access some features of the app. A solution was quickly implemented with users confirming it to be resolved.

Users are encouraged to contact the apprenticeship support team if they experience difficulties or have queries about the Your Apprenticeship app.

The Your Apprenticeship App has been developed with input from apprentices to ensure it meets their needs. The app allows apprentices to track their progress throughout their apprenticeship journey and to record evidence of their knowledge, skills and experience required to demonstrate occupational competency. As of 14 October, there have been almost 60,000 downloads and over 285,000 page views by users of the app.

The first phase of development is the minimum viable service, and this is being rolled out through a gradual onboarding of users as government continues to develop, test and enhance the functionality available.

In early testing the government identified a subset of users on the Android platform who could not access some features of the app. A solution was quickly implemented with users confirming it to be resolved.

Users are encouraged to contact the apprenticeship support team if they experience difficulties or have queries about the Your Apprenticeship app.

The Your Apprenticeship App has been developed with input from apprentices to ensure it meets their needs. The app allows apprentices to track their progress throughout their apprenticeship journey and to record evidence of their knowledge, skills and experience required to demonstrate occupational competency. As of 14 October, there have been almost 60,000 downloads and over 285,000 page views by users of the app.

The first phase of development is the minimum viable service, and this is being rolled out through a gradual onboarding of users as government continues to develop, test and enhance the functionality available.

In early testing the government identified a subset of users on the Android platform who could not access some features of the app. A solution was quickly implemented with users confirming it to be resolved.

Users are encouraged to contact the apprenticeship support team if they experience difficulties or have queries about the Your Apprenticeship app.

The Your Apprenticeship App has been developed with input from apprentices to ensure it meets their needs. The app allows apprentices to track their progress throughout their apprenticeship journey and to record evidence of their knowledge, skills and experience required to demonstrate occupational competency. As of 14 October, there have been almost 60,000 downloads and over 285,000 page views by users of the app.

The first phase of development is the minimum viable service, and this is being rolled out through a gradual onboarding of users as government continues to develop, test and enhance the functionality available.

In early testing the government identified a subset of users on the Android platform who could not access some features of the app. A solution was quickly implemented with users confirming it to be resolved.

Users are encouraged to contact the apprenticeship support team if they experience difficulties or have queries about the Your Apprenticeship app.

Pensim3 is a computerised long-term model designed to look around 80 years ahead to compare pensioner outcomes under various possible policy scenarios for a modelled British population. It is used for policy development/evaluation, aiding long-term expenditure forecasting and in analysis of future pensioner incomes. It does not simulate the actions of specific individuals, so its output is not suitable for a person planning their own pension provision.

Pensim3 is the main government source for estimating future pensioner incomes (latest publication is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/analysis-of-future-pension-incomes/analysis-of-future-pension-incomes). These statistics estimate the number and proportion of working age individuals, aged 22 to State Pension age, who are under saving for their retirement.

A-cubed was a proof-of-concept project built to test the feasibility of utilising generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist DWP Work Coaches in finding Universal Credit guidance.

After the successful completion of the proof-of-concept project, the Department created a tool to test the capability further, and to roll it out following completion of successful testing. DWP Ask is the tool that has been developed, incorporating lessons from A-cubed. The A-cubed prototype has been discontinued, which is standard practice for proof-of-concepts.

DWP Digital supports a number of legacy core IT systems. As well as the run costs of those systems there is also an element of maintenance costs which will include software updates.

The Digital maintenance budgets of the system owners which include the legacy system costs for the last three years is as follows:

*23/24 spend figures are based on the latest forecast as at Period 9.

The Department provides computers for customer use in Jobcentres which have assistive technology such as screen readers and screen magnification built into them. Although Jobcentres do not offer the use of refreshable braille displays, customers are able to access a wide range of services which can support their needs such as braille and large print documents being made available upon request.

We do not hold the information requested around costs for deployment of screen readers, speech recognition software and screen magnification software to our computers for use by customers. This is because the computers contain these products as a standard feature and were not purchased separately. These products are kept up to date and maintained in line with updates to the system as a whole.

DWP has completed an upgrade of all Customer Computers across the whole Jobcentre network which means that all devices provided for use by customers have the standard accessibility features available such as being able to change the screen size & colour, replacing sounds with screen alerts, converting sounds to text and using the screen reader to read text.

We now have over 7973 devices across our estate, registered with these accessibility features. The numbers of computers available for customers to use in jobcentres will differ between larger and smaller offices. We also constantly review the number of computers available and have capacity to increase the number of devices quickly, if the need arises.

The software in use on these machines is continually upgraded as and when required to ensure their continued use for customers. In addition to this further support is available to customers where reasonable adjustments are identified and recorded. Each Jobcentre District Office has been provided with the following items for use by customers if requested:

• A keyboard with larger keys
• A large trackball mouse
• Headphones. However, many people will want to use their own

We have opened a number of new sites across the estate to support delivery of face to face public services. As part of this work, Customer Computers are available in these sites.

We have also improved access to our Wi-Fi services in all jobcentres, allowing customers to use their own personal devices if they prefer, to access internet services.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 125429.

Universal Credit Full Service is fully compatible with accessibility software. Where our customers need assistance to access our services and information, we make adjustments to meet their individual needs. DWP customers who have a specific communication barrier are able to use a variety of different formats such as Braille, audio, and large print, through third party interpreters, and by arranging for a member of staff to visit the customer in their home. All jobcentres have also hearing loops.

Accessibility software specifically for blind and partially sighted claimants is not currently available in jobcentres. However, we are starting research later this month to understand how best we can improve the service to support these claimants. Possible geographical variation in support will also be explored in this research. The Department is already involved in the cross-government accessibility community, and we plan to work with other third parties to better understand the complexities and issues involved with assistive technology.

In a programme as complex as universal credit, which includes new IT developments and changes to existing IT assets, both agile and waterfall methods may be appropriate at different times. As examples, initial development used agile techniques while, in its final stages of testing for the pathfinder from April 2013, the programme is using the waterfall approach—a standard DWP testing methodology.

We are unable to provide this level of detail due to cost and complexity of the work involved.

The universal credit programme has to date used a mix of agile and waterfall software development where it has been appropriate to do so.

As the IT delivery requires the development of new systems and re-use of some existing IT assets, the programme intends to continue to use methodologies which are fit for purpose.

Access to work assessments carried out by Access to Work external assessment partners should always include checks and confirmation with an employer of compatibility where IT solutions are being considered.

AtW Guidance to external assessment partners states that they must address issues of compatibility with employers IT systems.

There will be occasions where bespoke systems will require scripting to ensure accessibility by visually impaired or blind customers. This process can take some time to complete and in such cases Access to Work will always provide interim solutions such as a support worker where this is appropriate.

All AtW partners are required to undertake continuous professional development and as part of this keep up to date with changes and availability of new IT solutions for all disabled people.