HC Deb 24 March 2000 vol 346 cc717-8W
Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have access from(a) home to the internet and (b) their workplace to the Internet; and if he will make a statement. [116050]

Ms Hewitt

The most recent official figures show that 62 per cent. of businesses in the UK are connected to the internet1 and 10 per cent. of households have access to the internee.2

Achieving universal access to the internet is a priority for Government, and the Prime Minister has announced a target for achieving it by 2005. Meeting this target is vital if we are to create a successful, inclusive knowledge-based economy.

Sources:

1 International Benchmarking Study 1999, DTI

2 Family Expenditure Survey 1999, ONS