Government wants net access for everyone

UK Learning and Technology Minister Michael Wills said today that the government would ensure internet access was no more than "an easy walk" away for all its citizens.

In an interview with vnunet.com, Wills said some 600 community IT centres, or UK Online centres, are being opened between now and March 2001. He said they would be located in venues as diverse as community centres, shopping centres, pubs, football clubs and even a funfair.

The centres will be located in some of the UK's poorest areas. More are planned and the scheme will eventually be expanded to include all public libraries so that there are 6000 centres open by 2002, including many mobile units travelling around rural areas. A total of £252m is being invested.

"It's vital that people who cannot afford to put the technology in their own home be able to get online. We want to put a computer within everybody's reach, to make sure the internet is just an easy walk away," said Wills.

As well as lower income groups, Wills said a key focus of the centres would be to help those with physical disabilities surf the internet using adapted equipment.

The homeless is another area identified as a target, a link-up with the Big Issue will provide email addresses and net access to circumvent the problem of getting a job with no fixed address.

Young offenders too will be given a chance to learn the computer skills, which Wills claimed would be needed for nine out of 10 jobs.

"We need to re-integrate these young people into society and there are often strong barriers that need to be overcome to do that," he said.

The centres opened today include a 12-computer mobile unit that will travel with Wilkinson's Big Top funfair on its travels through the West Midlands. Other centres include Burnley FC, Sheffield's Meadowhall Centre.