Alun Michael - Industry Minister - Digital Strategy

Vital issue to to the UK.
Speeds going up, prices going down.
Progress on digital divide but lots of people excluded. Danger of lagging of those excluded.

Mentions IT for the Absolutely Terrified (but gets the name wrong). Talks about inclusion and public services access. Enhancing educational, social and economic interactions.

Digital Strategy = "and use" is important. Strategy key as it moves away from infrastructure towards use. It has the PM's backing and is cross departmental.

Says promise is worth £3-5bn in economic benefits.

Focus areas
ODPM report of inclusion through innovation.
Example of video contact centre for sign language users.
Use in education and the digital challenge.
Home Computer Initiative
Content - needs innovation in content procurement and look at innovative broadband content for public servics.
Safe Use - 'Get Safe Online' - awareness raising
Disabled access - 81% of website fail on this. Websites difficult for the visually impaired are difficult for all users wheter disabled or not.

Need to reflect private sector customer services re availability.

Need to work across government and with industry.