§ Jon TrickettTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that deprived communities do not suffer an information deficit from lack of access to the internet. [139549]
§ Mr. TimmsTaking steps to ensure that deprived communities in both urban and rural areas do not suffer an information deficit from lack of access to the internet is one of the Government's key priorities. The 1429W Government recognise that internet access helps deprived communities to achieve social inclusion by benefiting from the knowledge economy. The Government's actions include:
6,000 UK Online Centres by end 2002 to provide either free or low-cost internet access with support for first-time users. Some 3,000 of the Online Centres are public libraries. 2,000 of the UK Online Centres are located in the most deprived wards. Currently, 100 per cent. of public libraries have internet access, of which some 85 per cent. have a broadband connection;£199 million was made available from the Capital Modernisation Fund to help fund UK Online Centres in deprived communities;a £30 million Broadband Fund administered by the Regional Development Agencies and devolved Administrations to run pilot projects to extend broadband availability to benefit SMEs among others in deprived communities;DTI's Broadband Aggregation Project, announced in July 2003, which aims to secure value for money for public sector provision and ensure this has maximum impact on the provision of broadband for communities in deprived areas;a joint DTI and Defra Rural Broadband Team, which was set up in May 2003 to address the issue of availability of broadband in rural areas, especially in deprived areas.