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Gordon Brown announces plan to boost access to new technology for 100,000 low income families

Plans to extend access to computers to at least 100,000 low income families were announced today by the Chancellor Gordon Brown.

The three year scheme will enable those who cannot buy computers to lease them. He also announced, that following tax changes in the Budget, at least 300,000 employees can borrow computers from work without having to pay tax. These are part of the Government's £1.7 billion national IT strategy.

Announcing the scheme at the UK Internet Summit in London, the Chancellor said:

"Anyone left out of the new knowledge revolution will be left behind in the new knowledge economy.

"So we will pioneer a system under which poorer individuals - sometimes through local partnerships - will be able to lease computers and software in the new century, the way local libraries have loaned books in the last century."

The aim of the scheme is to:

enable the purchase of low cost computers through small payments by low income learners;
help breakdown under achievement caused by lack of access to and ability to use computer facilities; and
ensure as many people as possible have a grounding in basic skills and computer literacy.

The Chancellor said he was determined to ensure that Britain led the world in getting people on-line. He said:

"As we enter the next century, we must make sure that nobody is left out of the computer revolution. We cannot allow inequality in access to computers to lead to inequality in life for the next generation. That is why we are providing computers for the next generation.

"Whichever country is able to make use of inventions and innovations fastest will come out ahead. I want that country to be Britain. I want Britain to lead the way in getting people on-line."

On the tax changes, which allow employees to borrow computers from work without having to pay tax, Mr Brown said:

"Inequality in computer learning will mean inequality in earning tomorrow. We want to bring more computers into more British homes, and since April employees have been able to borrow computers from their companies as a tax-free benefit.

"There are real benefits to businesses, employees and the wider community from increasing access to computers."

Notes for editors

1. The full text of the Chancellor's speech is available from the Treasury Press Office on 0207 270 5185.