| answer text |
<p>The Government’s Digital Strategy, published in March last year, sets out the Government’s
approach to tackling digital exclusion. It recognises that for the UK to be a world-leading
digital economy that works for everyone, it is crucial that everyone has the digital
skills they need to fully participate in society. The Government is committed to addressing
the digital divide between those who have been able to embrace the digital world and
those who have not.</p><p>We recently published our plans to improve adult basic digital
skills by updating the national standards setting out the digital skills people need
to get on in life and work and by introducing improved basic digital skills qualifications
at two levels:</p><ul><li>‘beginner’ designed for adults with little or no prior experience
of using digital devices or the internet</li><li>‘essential’ designed for adults with
some experience of using digital devices and the internet but lacking the full range
of basic digital skills needed for life and work.</li></ul><p>We will be introducing
a national entitlement to basic digital skills courses from 2020, similar to the existing
legal entitlements for English and Maths.</p><p>DCMS launched an innovation fund in
September specifically targeting the digital inclusion of disabled and older people,
with a further focus on those in rural areas, and on using digital to tackle loneliness.
The aim of the fund is to help ensure that ‘what works’ on digital inclusion is identified,
replicated and scaled. We have also commissioned a feasibility study to look at whether
outcomes based commissioning models, including Social Impact Bonds, could be used
to improve outcomes, particularly for those groups that are most likely to be digitally
excluded.</p><p>Government is also tackling digital exclusion via the ‘Future Digital
Inclusion’ programme funded by DfE and managed by the Good Things Foundation and delivered
through the 3,000 strong Online Centres network. To date, this programme has supported
over 800,000 adult learners to develop their basic digital skills, many of whom are
socially excluded. Further, the NHS Digital ‘Widening Digital Participation’ programme
develops projects that enable people in England to improve their digital health skills
and to increase their access to digital services and tools that support their health
and care.</p>
|
|
