Supplementary memorandum submitted by
Help the Aged
Many thanks for the opportunity to give evidence
to the DCMS Select Committee last week. There are clearly many
issues of concern to older and vulnerable groups and I wanted
to send you a quick note to re-emphasise what we see as the key
concerns.
Firstly, in terms of the support for vulnerable
groups, we are extremely concerned about plans to means test access
to free support for over 75s. We have concerns that means testing
will lead to practical problems around ensuring takeup and add
extra complexity. We have seen through other areas of work (eg
Warm Front) that means testing often does not target the groups
most in need of support.
We are worried that the support package for
older people may be being developed on the basis of how much money
is available rather than where the need is most. There remains
no extensive research into takeup by age/sex/race/disability /social
class etc, yet this research is essential if government is to
achieve its goal of switchover.
We are equally concerned in terms of the nature
of the hardware and practical support which will be offered to
older people. We would be extremely disappointed if the "box"
offered to older people was one which was chosen on the basis
of price rather than on usability and its potential to deliver
new or better services to older people (including internet access).
We have previously had a commitment from Government
that there would be consultation on the vulnerable assistance
proposals, however, I am very concerned that this consultation
may not happen.
Secondly, we remain concerned that Government
is driving a digital switchover process which is essentially about
achieving swithchover and not about how we can make the most of
the potential of the technology for tackling social exclusion
amongst older people. It remains the case that only one in five
over 65s have ever used the internet and yet digital TV could
offer the opportunity of delivering digital inclusion to older
people. I fear very much that the Government still sees older
people and other vulnerable groups as being a problem in relation
to switchover and are not necessarily looking at switchover as
an opportunity. We will be urging the DCMS and DTI to bring in
other government departments to discuss how government as a whole
could be working together to use digital TV as an opportunity
to tackle digital inclusion.
Finally, we see very little consultation and
involvement of older people in the digital TV switchover process.
Our own small scale survey showed that 57% of older people saw
digital switchover as a threat. If we are to win the hearts and
minds of older people in relation to the potential benefits, older
people must be involved and more and better targeted messages
must be delivered.
14 November 2005
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