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Written question asked by Ellie Reeves (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 March 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 April 2021. It was answered by Caroline Dinenage (Conservative) on Tuesday, 13 April 2021 on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Learning Disability: Technology

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with learning disabilities have access to the internet and are supported with using technology during the covid-19 outbreak.

Answer

To tackle the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on disabled people DCMS launched the £2.5m digital inclusion Digital Lifeline fund on 25 February. The fund will provide 5000 devices, data and support for disabled people to use the devices safely and confidently.

The government is working on the project with leading digital inclusion charities Good Things Foundation and AbilityNet, both highly experienced in helping disabled people boost their mental health and achieve their goals through digital technology.

The Government has worked closely with industry throughout the pandemic and has agreed a set of commitments with the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators to support vulnerable consumers during the Covid-19 period. Providers committed to working with customers who are finding it difficult to pay their bill as a result of Covid-19 to ensure that they are treated fairly and appropriately supported. Supplementary to this work, Ofcom published a Vulnerability Guide for providers, setting out its expectations and good practice on how vulnerable telecoms consumers should be supported.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
174941
Session
2019-21
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Access Disease control Internet Learning disability Technology Coronavirus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk