Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect on people who do not have access to the internet of the decline in face-to-face services during the response to the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government understands that those who are most vulnerable may also lack the access to technology, connectivity and basic digital skills to be able to fully participate while following social distancing advice. We are currently working at pace, in partnership with the tech sector and civil society organisations, to understand the effect on people who do not have access to the internet and to develop solutions to these challenges, as well as providing support to vulnerable people.

HMT and DCMS ministers meet frequently to cover a range of issues as part of the normal process of policy development and delivery. The government is working to address issues faced by vulnerable people who may also be digitally excluded.

The government has worked with the UK’s major telecommunications providers to agree measures to support connectivity for vulnerable consumers in general and those who may become vulnerable due to circumstances arising from Covid-19.

We are currently working with Futuredotnow, a coalition of companies and civil society organisations working to improve digital skills, on a campaign called DevicesDotNow. The campaign will work with the government to ensure that devices go where they are most needed to support better health and social care outcomes for the digitally excluded, to support remote working and to promote wider wellbeing.

Government also recently announced that vulnerable and disadvantaged children across England are to receive laptops, tablets and 4G routers to make remote education accessible. We are also working with the major telecommunications providers to make it easier for families to access selected educational resources by temporarily exempting these sites from data charges.