Government to appoint digital champion

Deprived areas have more digitally excluded people

The government is to appoint a high-profile “digital champion” to encourage greater use of technology across the UK.

Digital inclusion minister Paul Murphy told delegates at the Mobile Government conference in London today that more needs to be done to help the 17 million people that do not use internet-based services to get online.

"The dangers of digital exclusion are self-evident," he said.

Murphy said there will be fewer opportunities in education, entertainment, shopping and communication for those who do not use computers and mobile technology. He said that 90 per cent of job applications are now submitted online, and job seekers will miss out on opportunities if they are among the “digitally excluded”.

"We have figures showing that pupils having internet access at home gives on average half a GCSE grade point per pupil per subject extra," said Murphy.

"We've already published an action plan, and there are also 70 cross-government committees who are dealing indirectly with digital inclusion."

A report earlier this month by communications regulator Ofcom said that only 42 per cent of people in the UK have used the internet to access government services despite the billions of pounds spent on delivering online public services. In deprived areas of the country, the digital divide is even greater, with just 15 per cent using e-government sites.