Parliament seeks views on digital exclusion

The Communications and Digital Committee is launching an inquiry into digital exclusion and the cost of living. It is inviting written contributions by Tuesday 7th March.

Lloyds’ Consumer Digital Index for example found that by May 2022 an estimated 35 per cent of the population reported that the rising cost of living was impacting their ability to go online.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston, Chair of the Committee, said: “For many people, there are significant barriers to operating effectively online.

“These barriers can include a lack of confidence, a lack of digital skills, poor access to appropriate broadband, and poverty preventing access to equipment or internet access. The last of these is likely to be made worse by the current cost of living pressures.”

The committee is seeking views on the following questions:

1. What are the main causes of digital exclusion in the UK? What is the economic and social impact?

2. How has the rising cost of living affected digital exclusion?

a. To what extent does digital exclusion exacerbate cost of living pressures?
b. What are the long-term implications of this relationship?

3. What are the obstacles to greater digital inclusion? Where is policy intervention likely to have the greatest impact over the next 12 months and 5 years?

a. To what extent would these changes help unlock economic growth?

4. How effective are Government initiatives at addressing digital exclusion? What further action is needed, and what should be done to provide offline access to services?

5. How well are existing industry initiatives (for example cheaper internet tariffs) addressing digital exclusion? How could they be enhanced?

6. How effective is civil society at supporting digital inclusion? How could this work be enhanced, and what is the appropriate balance between civil society and Government intervention?

7. What lessons can the UK learn from abroad?