Wales Office

A new high-profile Digital Champion will help promote the Government’s Digital Inclusion agenda, the Minister for Digital Inclusion Paul Murphy announced today (Friday, 24 October).

The creation of an independent Digital Champion is one of the key proposals to achieve greater digital inclusion included within the new cross-Government report ‘Delivering Digital Inclusion: An Action Plan for Consultation‘, published today.

Around 17 million people in the UK today are excluded from the digital revolution, with no access or experience of the Internet and other digital technologies.

Launching the Action Plan at Holborn Library’s UK online centre as part of the National Get online Day, Paul Murphy said: “Technology and the Internet are now woven into the fabric of our society. However, we cannot ignore the fact that those who are socially excluded are much less likely to have access to and benefit from technology.

“Digital inclusion aims to create a fair society and bring social and economic benefits to individuals, communities and the economy as a whole. It is the links between social and technological disadvantage that makes digital inclusion a priority today.

“The post of Digital Champion will be independent of Government, but will work closely with myself as Minister for Digital Inclusion, the Cabinet Committee and the cross-Government Digital Inclusion Team. The Champion will work as a high-profile public figure who can raise the profile of this agenda, gaining support from industry, the third and public sectors, plus central and local government, whilst maintaining their independence.

“The exact role and responsibilities of the Champion are not yet agreed, that is why we are asking people to respond to this consultation to help us shape our plans for the future. We are eager to hear people’s views on how this new post can work most effectively, and indeed to suggest individuals or organisations to fulfil this role.”

The Digital Champion is just one of more than 70 Government actions listed in the Plan aiming to advance the Government’s Digital Inclusion agenda. Those actions include last week’s announcement by Lord Carter of the work on Digital Britain to secure the UK’s status as a world leader in the knowledge and learning economy.

Mr Murphy said: “This Action Plan shows that the Government is taking the lead. We want to bring people together from industry and the voluntary sectors, as well as from across Government, so that we can work together and make more impact with the money we’re spending. This Action Plan is an important step to achieve greater co-ordination and co-operation on this important agenda.

“And we are already taking action. You will know that the Department for Children, Schools and Families recently announced its Home Access programme.  A fundamental part of the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, the home access programme will target those one million children in England who currently do not have access to a computer or internet connectivity at home, starting with pilots in Oldham and Suffolk.

“But the Action Plan isn’t just about what we’re doing at Whitehall level - it also recognises the good work that local authorities and others are already doing across the country, and we want to support that further.

“By all working together, we can make a difference to our 17 million citizens currently excluded from the digital world.”

To support the Action Plan, Communities and Local Government will be publishing new research and resources to help councils and communities deliver digital inclusion initiatives on the ground as well as moving forward with their plans for the Digital Mentors scheme, laid out in the Empowerment White Paper. This group of people will work to support and empower communities, in the UK’s most deprived areas, enabling them to engage with digital technology and media.

Communities Minister Baroness Andrews said: “The research we have released today very clearly demonstrates access to technology can improve quality of life and opens up new opportunities. We want to ensure that all communities - including the most disadvantaged - can benefit by going digital. The Government’s action plan is an important step, as well as new resources for councils and communities. I look forward to hearing the feedback this consultation produces and to seeing the development of even more inspiring and innovative programmes for digital inclusion.”

Notes:

• ‘Delivering Digital Inclusion: An Action Plan for Consultation’ is available at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/deliveringdigitalinclusion
• Digital Inclusion Minister Paul Murphy launched the Action Plan at Holborn Library UK online centre as part of the National Get online Day.
• To support the plan, Communities and Local Government is running a programme to increase local authorities’ ability to use technology to provide innovative and successful services; key to helping more people overcome problems, gain self confidence and achieve the ability to fully enjoy, take part in and contribute towards society. CLG’s programme (Digital Inclusion Capacity Building Programme) has been developed in consultation with stakeholders, including public, private and third sectors. New resources are being launched today and can be found at http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/digitalinclusion/
• Government has taken steps to improve digital inclusion in the last three years. For example, the Department for Children, Schools and Families introduced the Computers for Pupils programme; through UKOnline centres they have rolled out the myGuide service for the digitally excluded. And the winner of 2007’s Digital Challenge competition, Sunderland City Council, and the nine runners up are continuing to develop good practice for other local authorities so that they can help their communities, particularly the most deprived, to benefit from new technologies.
• Calls for Interest: Developing a National Network of ‘Digital Mentors’: Following the commitment in Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/communitiesincontrol, CLG is inviting formal expressions of interest from organisations willing to work with us and each other to develop the network of ‘Digital Mentors’ in deprived communities in England. For more information visit: http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/communityempowerment/whatweare/digitalmentors/