Gordon Brown has again highlighted the technology industry as a key factor in helping to manoeuvre the UK out of the current economic downturn.

In an interview with The Observer announcing plans to create 100,000 jobs through an ambitious public works programme similar to President Roosevelt's New Deal after the US depression of the 1930s, Brown said that technology is the railway of the current age.

"When we talk about the roads and the bridges and the railways that were built in previous times - and those were anti-recession measures taken to help people through difficult times - you could [by comparison] talk about the digital infrastructure and that form of communications revolution at a period when we want to stimulate the economy," he said. "It's a very important thing."

Brown explained that investment in broadband could be a key factor in encouraging growth, and highlighted jobs in digital industries as a priority.

The prime minister will tour a number of towns and cities around the UK later this week, and host a summit on boosting employment on 12 January. More detailed plans will be announced at that time.

David Cameron also outlined the need for better broadband in Britain today, but was more explicit than Brown in his policy commitment.

He said the Conservatives would "encourage and support" private investment in broadband and said he wanted to achieve universal superfast broadband coverage within ten years of being elected.

"We need to move much faster towards a Britain where high speed networks right into people's homes is the norm for everyone," he said.

"We will do all we can to create the conditions that make investment in a fibre network an attractive possibility for telecoms companies."