The Government Digital Service (GDS) and the business department (BIS) will establish a cross-government digital capability and skills programme to help citizens use digital services.
The programme is part of a new strategy to reduce the number of people without basic digital skills by 25% of the population by 2016. GDS will also work with departments to ensure that government spending on digital inclusion work “is aligned and provides value for money,” the strategy says, arguing that this will “open up the market to new providers, improve partnership working and give service providers greater clarity.”
The strategy, published on Monday, also says that departments must integrate digital inclusion work into relevant programmes.
Shadow minister Chi Onwurah said: “This is too little, too late,” because it “chooses to leave behind 10% of the adult population” and “does not go far enough to include citizens who have been excluded”.