Digital Inclusion

2026-05-20

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer

Eastbourne

▸ Context

The question arises from the need to support grassroots organisations that are working on improving digital inclusion.

What steps she is taking to support grassroot organisations working to improve digital inclusion. The questioner highlights the importance of such organisations and their role in bridging the digital divide.

James Frith

The Labour Government are the first in a decade to publish a digital inclusion action plan, to ensure that everybody benefits from our digital society. Seventy-three per cent of the £11.9 million digital inclusion innovation fund supported charities, many of them grassroots organisations. Through the digital ID work that I lead, we are supporting digital inclusion, and we are engaging expert grassroots organisations directly to ensure that we get this right, and that they are included.

▸ Assessment & feedback

Specific commitment or timeline for reviewing and reopening the fund was not provided

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Q2 Partial Answer

Josh Babarinde Lib Dem

Eastbourne

▸ Context

NHS Sussex identified Eastbourne as one of the most digitally excluded areas despite its sunny weather. TechResort, run by Liz Crew and Will Callaghan, faces challenges due to the closing of the digital inclusion innovation fund.

NHS Sussex found that Eastbourne is one of the most digitally excluded patches of Sussex despite being the sunniest town in the UK. Great organisations like TechResort help bridge the digital divide but will be scuppered by the closing of the digital inclusion innovation fund; its last grant expired last month. Will the Minister commit to reviewing the reopening of that fund, and set out a timeline for that?

James Frith

The hon. Gentleman raises a very important point; I know that he has an excellent record in this area. The digital inclusion fund was designed as a one-year programme to allow us to understand what works in digital inclusion. I share his concerns. We remain committed to building a digitally inclusive society, and that includes our public services which we are making more personalised, joined up and digital so that everybody is included and benefits from them.