Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Digital Inclusion

Wednesday 26 March 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Michelle Welsh raised concerns about poor phone signal and internet access in rural and ex-mining communities, highlighting issues of digital exclusion.
  • The Minister acknowledged the issue, noting the challenge of affluent areas existing next to poorer ones and emphasizing the need to address digital inclusion comprehensively.
  • Sarah Dyke highlighted the work of community interest companies like Donate IT in her constituency, which refurbish IT equipment to bridge the digital gap.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Michelle Welsh Lab Sherwood Forest
Science & Technology Business & Trade Environment
Context

Constituents in Michelle Welsh's constituency struggle with phone signal and internet access, feeling left behind in technological advancements that improve job prospects, education, and business opportunities.

Question

Too often, in ex-mining communities such as Ollerton and Edwinstowe, in rural communities such as Farnsfield and even in Hucknall West, people struggle to get a phone signal and access to the internet. Constituents feel that they are left behind and miss out on the new and upcoming technologies that we know improve access to online jobs, education and business opportunities. Does the Minister agree that we need to ensure such communities are at the heart of the Government’s digital inclusion ambitions, so no one is left behind, especially those in deprived communities?

Answer from The Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms (Chris Bryant)

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and her constituency exemplifies one of the issues we face, which is that we might have relatively affluent areas cheek by jowl with much poorer areas. That is why, in our digital inclusion action plan, we have tried to ensure that we address all the different forms of digital exclusion, whether it is by virtue of age, ethnicity, educational background or physical geography.

Partly answered
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Q2 Sarah Dyke Lib Dem Glastonbury and Somerton
Science & Technology Environment
Context

Community interest companies like Donate IT in Wincanton are helping to bridge the gap by refurbishing old IT equipment for distribution, preventing waste and addressing digital poverty.

Question

Lack of access to digital services prevents people from applying for jobs, studying and accessing healthcare, but community interest companies such as Donate IT, based in Wincantor, are helping to bridge the gap by diverting IT equipment that was otherwise heading to landfill. By refurbishing that tech and distributing it to the people, schools and groups who need it, Donate IT is helping to address digital poverty. How does the Minister plan to support such organisations to prevent electrical waste from going to landfill and to tackle digital exclusion?

Answer from The Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms (Chris Bryant)

I am really pleased that that is happening in the hon. Lady’s constituency. We were pleased as a Government to be able to say not only that many Government Departments will make sure that we do precisely the same thing, but that many major employers will also do the same. It is crazy to chuck old kit into landfill when, frankly, it could be used much better to provide people with digital opportunities for the future.

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