Communications and Digital Committee
Digital exclusion

3rd Report of Session 2022-23 - published 29 June 2023 - HL Paper 219

Contents

Summary

Chapter 1: Introduction

Figure 1: Key figures

Box 1: Key terms

Chapter 2: Digital exclusion

What is digital exclusion?

Key demographics

Age

Socio-economic status

Disability

Region

Figure 2: Internet use by age

Figure 3: Internet use by socio-economic background

Interrelated problems

Trajectories

Cost of living

Cause for concern

Chapter 3: The case for intervention

Overview

Economic growth

Public services

Figure 4: Projected Government efficiency savings over time (£ million)

Need for Government analysis

Levelling up

Education

Public health and wellbeing

Net zero

Democratic inclusion

Chapter 4: Evaluating the Government’s work

Strategy and work programmes

Out of date and insufficient

Lack of join-up

Principles for intervention

Pragmatic

Proportionate

Joined up

Chapter 5: Affordable internet access

Social tariffs

Box 2: social tariffs

Advertising social tariffs

Standardising and mandating social tariffs

VAT on social tariffs

Internet voucher schemes

Mid-contract price rises

Affordable devices

Chapter 6: Connectivity and coverage

Box 3: Broadband key terms

Box 4: Project Gigabit and the Gigabit Voucher Scheme

Altnets and telecoms competition

Box 5: The UK broadband market

Chapter 7: Skills

Basic digital skills gaps

Data on basic skills gaps

Figure 5: Overview of basic digital skills at work

More attention

The Essential Digital Skills Framework

Not just qualifications

Local and community-based interventions

Chapter 8: Accessible services

User-centred digital services

Accessible design

Predictive analytics

Summary of conclusions and recommendations

Appendix 1: List of Members and Declarations of Interest

Appendix 2: List of witnesses

Appendix 3: Call for Evidence

Appendix 4: Visit and public engagement

Evidence is published online at https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/170/communications-and-digital-committee/publications/ and available for inspection at the Parliamentary Archives (020 7219 3074).

Q in footnotes refers to a question in oral evidence.





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