In conversation with Baronesses Harding and Dido: digital inclusion needs cross-governmental efforts
Our reflections on the conversation with Baroness Harding and Baroness Dido, which took part during episode 1 of Digital Futures for Good. They know digital exclusion is a complicated issue, one that needs attention from cross-government departments.
Exploring a digitally included nation
In our first episode of Digital Futures For Good, our CEO Helen Milner spoke to Baroness Dido Harding and Baroness Anna Healy. They shared their experience as part of the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee and their visions for a future Government when it comes to fixing the digital divide.
"It’s self-evidently obvious that the economic case is really clear, the social case is really clear, and actually there’s really good evidence that the general public wants this, so that makes the political case really clear. So I’m mighty frustrated because it seems to me that for the best part of 15 years, governments haven’t acted on this." - Baroness Dido Harding
What did digital inclusion experts say during the episode?
We were joined by digital inclusion experts Liz Williams, CEO of FutureDotNow, and Hafsha Dadabhai Shaikh, Director of SmartLyte and Get Families Talking, to get their reactions to the interview.
The importance of digital inclusion
Hafsha explained that digital inclusion is so important because we're in an evolving world and it allows us all to connect, to speak the same language. It bridges the gap between young and old and different communities. Hafsha said:
"But more than that, digital inclusion enables a fairer, more equitable world where everyone has access and can improve their health, their wellbeing, their employment opportunities, their educational aspirations, and how it leans into the future. Generations as we know it transforms, it changes lives and life chances, helps families and communities to aspire. So we’ve all got to be behind it."
Addressing the digital divide
Our panel discussed the need to address digital inclusion, often agreeing with the Baronesses in their interview about the breadth of the issue and how it will take many players at all levels to ensure that we can fix the digital divide. Liz said:
"It’s not a societal issue; it’s a system issue. The people who haven’t got foundational competence never catch up. As technology advances, that will create huge inequality."
Bringing digital inclusion to life
The Baronesses joined us at a Digital Inclusion Hub as part of their inquiry into digital inclusion and the cost of living. The visit brought the issue to life and was referred to in their report and subsequent debates at the House of Lords.
Both Baronesses expressed their frustrations at Government apathy towards digital exclusion, but they understood that it was a complicated issue requiring cross-governmental efforts to understand how it affects many aspects of people’s lives, from loneliness to poverty.
The need for actionable steps
Liz closed the episode by saying:
"It’s been put on the ‘too hard’ step, it’s too complicated. It’s all about short-termism in our system at the moment, 'What can we do now?' What we need to do is lay it all out and say, 'This is what needs to happen,' with actionable steps."