Government will ‘take everybody into the digital future’ with new inclusion plan

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The whole of the UK will be given the chance to boost their digital skills and access vital technology under a new inclusion plan announced by the Government. “It’s shocking that it’s been 10 years since the last government came up with a digital inclusion strategy of any kind whatsoever,” he said. “Or it might be to do with finance, because you simply haven’t got enough money to pay for an internet connection, or it might be other social issues – educational opportunity, your personal skills, linguistic issues – and we want to address all of those.” Mr Kyle said the technological revolution of today “will not slow down any time soon” and that “leaving people behind in the process could threaten our mission to maximise technology for economic growth and better public services”. “This is very much first steps, and this is a key ambition of this Labour Government to be able to take everybody into the digital future and not just a few,” he told PA. “And the only way we can do that is if it’s not just a strategy for this year, but it’s a strategy for the whole of our time in Government.” The telecoms minister added that improving digital skills across the population was also key to enabling the Government to provide more public services digitally, as it looks to cut waste and boost efficiency.