Councillor calls for cheaper broadband access in Birmingham

Birmingham city council's cabinet member for children and young people has called on broadband providers to bridge the "digital divide" with cheaper internet access for poorer families.

Councillor Les Lawrence, the Conservative member for Northfield, said government figures show 800,000 pupils in England do not have broadband access at home, leaving them at a disadvantage when it comes to carrying out research for schoolwork.

He added that IT skills were now becoming as important as numeracy and literacy for employers.

"It is time that the suppliers of broadband internet connections look at ways that they can reduce the cost for families that have children and young people at home requiring internet access for academic studies," he commented.

Mr Lawrence also called on providers to work with the government, local councils and IT charities to bring costs down.

Birmingham city council recently announced plans to give laptops to 8,000 local schoolchildren by the end of the summer term as part of the government's computers for pupils programme.