Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the contribution that improving essential digital skills could make to (i) economic growth and (ii) labour market participation in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

Improving essential digital skills supports both economic growth and labour market participation. Over 80% of jobs require digital skills, yet 7.1 million labour force adults lack those needed for work. Evidence shows every £1 invested in digital skills training returns £9.48 throughout the economy. No constituency-level assessment exists for Buckingham and Bletchley but fully funded digital skills qualifications are available locally to help residents into and on in work.