To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that people over the age of 60 are able to access the internet.

My Lords, the Digital Britain report, published on 16 June 2009, sets out our plans for increasing digital participation, including for the over-60s, who make up a large proportion of those not online. Furthermore, there is our universal service commitment to ensure that broadband is available across the UK. Two megabits per second will ensure that virtually every household can have access, if it wants it. One of the key priorities for the work of the champion for digital inclusion and her expert task force, announced on 16 June, will be the 65 and over group.

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his Answer. Does he agree that those without internet access in their 60s, and especially those over 70, who often come into a lower income group and who may be housebound, miss out on the advantages of cheaper rail fares, cheaper car insurance, choosing their own seats on flights, certain discounts and bargains on food and other retail items? According to the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, internet activity boosts brain power in older people rather more than reading books, I am sorry to say. Is my noble friend aware that Age Concern runs 150 drop-in facilities which offer training in online use to people in their 60s, 70s and 80s?

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for those pertinent questions. I would demur about the benefits of books versus computers. I think both have their part to play—

Particularly crime novels.

My Lords, I hear what the noble Lord says. We are certainly aware of the numerous benefits and activities which older people miss out on because they are not online. They have much to gain. They miss out on keeping in touch with family and friends; organising household and personal paperwork, bills and direct debits; and they certainly miss out on some of the cheapest offers for air fares and train fares, enjoying interests, hobbies, education, employment, watching TV and listening to radio stations from all over the world. Research shows that using the internet—

Too long!

My Lords, I shall finish on this point. Research shows that using the internet can save an individual around £23 a month or around £270 annually.

My Lords, does the Minister agree that there is another reason why older people need access to the internet, which is that telecare in various forms and care services can be brought to the very frail if they have adequate access to all forms of IT? It is very basic and not difficult to learn how to use those services, which are essential to a lot of people and will be in the future.

My Lords, I agree with the noble Baroness about the potential for helping the elderly, for example, by telecare healthcare. That is why we are working closely with Age Concern, which runs computer literacy courses for older people, and we have announced our digital champion, Martha Lane Fox, who is going to focus on this area.

My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Rendell, mentioned that a lot of people are housebound. Does the Minister think there is a place for volunteers to help such people to make sure they know how to use the internet? Are we not extremely fortunate in this House to have PICT to help us when we come unstuck with the internet?

My Lords, I absolutely agree with the noble Baroness about the benefits we have—for those who are willing to take them up, of course—and the idea of targeted outreach to connect the vulnerable and elderly, introduce them to the online world and give them advice. One of the biggest drivers of getting people who are sometimes described as silver surfers online is the grandchild effect, which often persuades many of our more mature citizens to embark on the joys of cyberspace.

My Lords, would the Minister not agree that it is a question of encouraging access? There is a generation gap; the older generation feels that the internet is for younger people. Would the Government encourage a high-profile publicity campaign—we currently see Michael Winner promoting car insurance, although I think I would probably listen more to somebody like Joanna Lumley—linked with local provision in libraries, mobile libraries or wherever, to encourage people in the older generation to get the training and the chance to implement it?

My Lords—

My Lords, I try to go for a short response, but not that short. We agree with the need to do that. That is why we have appointed Martha Lane Fox, who started lastminute.com, as the champion for digital inclusion with a remit to speak up for the digitally and socially excluded. We are confident that she will do a good job. The £100 million People’s Network programme in public libraries is another successful part of reaching one part of that more mature generation.

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that, as a person over 60, I am continually bombarded with spam emails? They are always the same and are usually about penile extensions, Viagra or inkjet cartridges. Do I look like a man who requires inkjet cartridges?

Yes!

My Lords, serendipitous engagement is part of the sheer joy of the internet, but some of the spam can be blocked.

My Lords, does the Minister not think it a little unfair to ask elderly people who do not use the internet to pay an extra tax on their telephone bills?

My Lords, that was one of the conclusions in the Digital Britain report. It is a fairly modest contribution. We have to weigh it against the greater good. Extending internet access across the whole of the UK would give a benefit of something like £270 annually. The greater good makes it worth while.

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords, we are almost in the eighth minute. We should move on.