Martha Lane Fox appointed ‘Champion for Digital Inclusion’

As part of the launch of the much-awaited Digital Britain report, Lord Stephen Carter - Minister for communications, technology and broadcasting has appointed Martha Lane Fox as the government’s Digital Inclusion Champion along with the establishment of a Task Force of ten expert advisors.

Starting from 22 June, Lane-Fox’s role as a champion along with the Task Force experts is to represent those who are both socially and digitally excluded, who are not currently reaping the benefits of digital technologies.

The appointment comes as Digital Britain report aims to do more for the 17 million people who are still excluded from digital technology, and calls for further action for the six million who are both digitally and socially excluded.

Digital Inclusion is about making the best use of digital technology, either directly or indirectly, to improve the lives and life chances of all citizens, particularly the most disadvantaged, and the places in which they live.

Following the consultation process launched in October last year, it was found that about 17 million people in the UK are not online and that there is a strong correlation between digital exclusion and social exclusion. The report also suggested the crucial role technology has in improving the lives of disadvantaged communities.

Lane-Fox said: “I will use ideas, contacts and experience from both the commercial and charitable sectors to make sure that, with the help of the Task Force, I quickly start to deliver effective projects.”

Currently, a non-executive director of Marks & Spencer, Channel 4 and Mydeco, she co-founded leisure and holiday website Lastminute in 1998 with business partner Brent Hoberman, floated the business in 2000 and remained on the company's board until its sale in 2005.

The Task Force experts include names such as Anna Bradley, communications and consumer panel; Kevin Carey, RNIB; Phil Coppard, Barnsley Council; Jon Drori, Changing Media, Emma Gilthorpe, BT; Seetha Kumar, BBC; Catherine Marshall, The Lighthouse Project; Helen Milner, UK online centres; Tristan Wilkinson, Intel; and Tom Wright, Age Concern and Help the Aged.