Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Helen Goodman Excerpts
Wednesday 20th March 2013

(11 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nick Hurd Portrait Mr Hurd
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We are making it easier to access broadband and have supported, and continue to work closely with, valuable networks such as Go ON UK and UK online centres, because my hon. Friend is right that there is still a big opportunity to help more people, small businesses and charities to access the benefits of the internet.

Helen Goodman Portrait Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab)
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As I am sure the Minister knows, 11 million people in this country have never used the internet, and at the moment his Department is spending no money on digital inclusion. Is its real way of saving money on public services to make them completely inaccessible to those who need them?

Nick Hurd Portrait Mr Hurd
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No. As I said, we are clear that no one must be excluded from this process. That is why significant assisted digital provision is still in place, and we will shortly make available details of how that will work. There are digital inclusion projects across Government and we are actively reviewing, with partners such as Go ON UK, what more we can do.