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1050084
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-01-28more like thismore than 2019-01-28
answering body
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport more like this
answering dept id 10 more like this
answering dept short name Digital, Culture, Media and Sport more like this
answering dept sort name Digital, Culture, Media and Sport more like this
hansard heading Digital Technology: Older People remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to help elderly people learn digital skills in (a) the East Midlands and (b) England. more like this
tabling member constituency Mansfield more like this
tabling member printed
Ben Bradley remove filter
uin 213464 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-02-04more like thismore than 2019-02-04
answer text <p>We are committed to helping elderly people acquire basic digital skills as part of our broader strategy to reduce digital exclusion. The Government’s Digital Strategy, published in March last 2017, 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.</p><p> </p><p>In September 2018 DCMS launched a £400,000 Innovation Fund to tackle the digital exclusion of older and disabled people. Three pilot projects will address the digital exclusion of these groups with a view to replicating and scaling successful interventions in future.</p><p> </p><p>DCMS are also supporting the development of Local Digital Skills Partnerships to encourage collaboration between key regional stakeholders to design and deliver innovative digital skills provision locally. Working closely with regional LEPs and Combined Authorities, three regions - Lancashire, Heart of the South West and the West Midlands have already launched with a further three regions - South East, Cheshire and Warrington and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly coming on stream over the coming months.</p><p> </p><p>On 18th September 2018, we published plans to improve adult basic digital skills.</p><p>We will introduce an entitlement to full funding for basic digital courses from 2020, similar to the entitlements already in place for maths and English. This will provide adults of any age the opportunity to undertake improved qualifications based on new national standards free of charge.</p><p> </p><p>We understand that it is sometimes difficult for elderly people to access services digitally. Through around 3000 libraries across England we provide a trusted network of accessible locations with trained staff and volunteers, free Wi-Fi, computers, and other technology as well as Assisted Digital access to a wide range of digital public services where individuals are unable to access these services independently. There are numerous library device loan schemes across the country, many of which have a high take-up by older people.</p><p> </p><p>Government is also tackling digital exclusion via the ‘Future Digital Inclusion’ programme funded by DfE, managed by the Good Things Foundation and delivered through the 5,000 strong national Online Centres network based out of libraries and other community spaces. There is provision across the East Midlands. To date, this programme has supported 1 million adult learners to develop their basic digital skills, many adults aged over 65 have benefited from “Future Digital Inclusion” programme (approx. 170,000). 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. A large percentage of those who have benefited from this service are elderly people.</p>
answering member constituency Stourbridge more like this
answering member printed Margot James more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-02-04T17:24:08.113Zmore like thismore than 2019-02-04T17:24:08.113Z
answering member
4115
label Biography information for Margot James more like this
tabling member
4663
label Biography information for Ben Bradley more like this