Scottish Government under pressure over digital inclusion ‘inaction’

Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK in its digital inclusion ambitions, the Scottish Government has been told.  

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisation (SCVO) has warned ministers the public “faces significant disadvantage and increasing inequality”, with thousands still lacking foundational digital skills a year after Audit Scotland’s damning report.  

Last August, Audit Scotland raised concerns over the impact the digital divide was having on people’s human rights, including the right to education and a fair trial. Its report revealed one in six Scottish adults lacked the digital skills needed for everyday life, blocking them from accessing public services.  

However, according to SVO, 15 per cent of adults still lack foundational digital skills - the basics like turning on a device, and nine per cent of households have no internet access at all.  

Six in ten households don’t meet the government's Minimum Digital Living Standard - a benchmark of the goods, services, and skills a household needs to participate in the digital world.

The charity has called on the government to update its national strategy, publish an action plan and provide further investment to bridge the gap.

It urged ministers to “work more openly and collaboratively” with local authorities, the voluntary and the private sector, and to be transparent on how they would use the UK Government’s £764,020 Innovation Fund - unveiled earlier this month.

The charity also called for a minister to be fully responsible for the digital inclusion brief, in a bid to fix leadership and accountability issues. 

In February , the UK Government published its first digital inclusion plan in a decade. It included several initiatives to break down barriers across the country, including a dedicated team within the Department for Science, Inclusion & Technology. And, three weeks ago, it announced a £9.5m innovation fund to help more people get online. 

The SCVO said: “Without action, Scotland risks falling further behind - and leaving vulnerable individuals excluded from healthcare, education, employment and connection.  

“It’s time to press refresh, Scottish Government. Show leadership. Create a plan. Take action. Leave no one behind.”

Holyrood has contacted the Scottish Government for comment.