Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Metcalfe and Margot James

Thursday 23rd May 2019 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

2. What steps his Department is taking to support older people to improve their digital skills.

[The Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries (Margot James)]

Three quarters of people who lack basic digital skills are over the age of 65, so we have launched a digital inclusion innovation fund specifically to help older people and people with disabilities. We are also tackling digital exclusion via the £15 million future digital inclusion programme, which since 2014 has helped more than 1 million adult learners to develop their basic digital skills.

[Stephen Metcalfe]

We all know how important it is to have digital skills in the modern world. Will the Minister therefore join me in congratulating the South East local enterprise partnership on being awarded funding to set up a local digital skills partnership, and wish it well in its new task?

[Margot James]

I certainly congratulate the South East LEP on gaining this initiative. We have now launched six local digital skills partnerships, and they will match provision to the very local needs of people, particularly in my hon. Friend’s constituency.