Digital Strategy

Baroness Wheatcroft Excerpts

Monday 15th July 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

My Lords, the Government very much take that into account. Incidentally, the statistics do not show that all older people are incapable of using digital services. The assisted digital scheme is precisely a means of helping people who do not find it easy to access the internet. They are given incentives to encourage them to ask their friends and others in care homes and elsewhere to help them to access the internet. I admit that the only government service that I have yet used online is renewing my driving licence. I understand that the most complex procedure that you can currently do entirely online is the enduring power of attorney, which I suspect one needs younger people to help with.

[Baroness Wheatcroft]

My Lords, instead of a subsidised TV licence or free television licence for the elderly, might not subsidised broadband be a good idea?

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

My Lords, I had better take that one away and think about it.