Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Paragraph: 39
We welcome the move to offer applicants a digital route.
Recommendation
We welcome the move to offer applicants a digital route. This will bring the process up to date with other Government services, which can be accessed online. The Government must ensure it is a system that can be accessed via smartphones as well as other devices. It will also need to offer a non-digitised route for those people who do not have access to the right technology and who feel more able to submit documents in hard copy. In response to this report the Government must set out and commit to placing the process online in the next six months. It should provide regular updates to stakeholders, including this Committee, on what stage the process is at and immediately clarify whether a non-digitalised system will continue to exist.
Paragraph Reference:
39
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
9. We continue to make progress with the digitisation of the GRC application process. The system is currently in its testing phase and will be operational by summer 2022. 10. The digital process has been informed by user research to ensure that the application process is as straightforward as possible. User feedback has been positive, with users so far highlighting that the service is quicker and easier to use, and easier to understand as it adheres to the Government Digital Service (GDS) principles of ‘plain English’. We are taking feedback from users on board to improve the service further in advance of making it operational. We provide updates on our progress to a number of relevant stakeholders and user representatives, and have shared examples of those updates with the Committee. 11. The process is being developed to the GDS service standard1 using the gov.uk design system which is responsive2 to different screen sizes and will be accessible on tablets and mobiles. 12. If they prefer, applicants will also continue to be able to make use of the existing paper-based application process, in line with GDS standards.