Although we live in an increasingly online world, a significant part of the population remains digitally excluded and I welcome the Government’s commitment to helping elderly people, in particular, acquire basic digital skills, as part of its broader strategy to reduce digital exclusion.
Age UK has conducted research on digital exclusion in the UK. It found that 25 per cent of people aged 65 and over in the UK don't use the internet. Older people who are without digital skills risk losing access to key services such as banking, shopping and health services, as well as communications platforms that keep people connected.
Age UK's research found that, in England, the three most common reasons for people aged 65 and over not using the internet were:
1. A lack of skills.
2. A lack of trust in the internet.
3. A lack of access to good enough equipment and/or broadband access.
The introduction of the digital entitlement means that since August 2020, adults with no or low digital skills can undertake new Essential Digital Skills qualifications (EDSQs) up to Level 1 free of charge. EDSQs are a new qualification type, based on new national standards for essential digital skills, which provide adults with the digital skills needed for life and work.
Alongside this, public libraries play a key role in helping to tackle digital exclusion. Around 2,900 public libraries in England provide a trusted network of accessible locations offering free WiFi, access to computers and digital support provided by staff and volunteers. More broadly, the involvement of the voluntary and community sector is crucial, and support can be most effective where providers are able to tailor their support to local needs.
For example, Age UK is running a 'Digital Champions Programme' which seeks to provide support for older people to improve their digital skills through trained volunteers, as well as providing loan technology for those without access. Further information can be found online at: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/programmes/digital-skills/digital-c…
The Government is working hard to remove barriers and ensure that online services are as inclusive as possible by making public sector websites accessible to as many people as possible. The accessibility regulations ensure that websites and mobile apps are designed to be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust. Furthermore, assisted digital support services aim to increase digital inclusion for those online users who lack digital confidence, digital skills or access to the internet.
Lack of connectivity is another root cause of digital exclusion. The Government has committed £5 billion to support the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband to the hardest-to-reach areas of the UK had been allocated. This funding will be used to ensure that hard-to-reach premises will get access to 1,000mbps-capable broadband along with the rest of the UK. It is encouraging that 80 per cent of UK premises now have a gigabit-capable connection - a huge leap forwards from just over one in twenty in January 2019. Furthermore, the Government is working with industry to achieve 85 per cent gigabit-capable coverage by 2025, with the ambition for nationwide broadband coverage by 2030.
Additionally, to support low-income households, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has negotiated a range of high-quality, low-cost broadband and mobile social tariffs for households in receipt of Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits. Mobile and broadband social tariffs are available in 99 per cent of the UK, from a range of providers including BT, Virgin Media, Sky and Vodafone, from as little as £10 per month.
