Champion for digital inclusion Martha Lane Fox has praised a Digital Birmingham scheme aimed at getting more people online.

During the day Ms Lane Fox met residents of Windsor House, an Erdington tower block, who have been provided with computers and broadband connectivity in a six-month trial to promote broadband uptake in social housing; along with families who have benefited from the Computers in the Home project in Aston.

Ms Lane Fox, who founded shopping website Lastminute.com and is a non-executive director at Channel 4, said, "More than 10 million adults across the UK have never used the internet, and worryingly, four million of this group are also socially excluded. All of them are missing out on the opportunities and cost efficiencies that the web has to offer.

"There are many superb projects across the UK already working hard towards a more digitally enabled society and Birmingham is a fantastic
example of how communities can benefit from being online."

Coun Paul Tilsley, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, heads up the Digital Birmingham Partnership and he added: "We firmly believe that being able to access the benefits of online and digital technology is one of the biggest factors in economic well being and social inclusion, and this has been the key driver of Digital Birmingham's activity over the past few years."

In addition to meeting the city's residents, Ms Lane Fox also held talks with community representatives, regional policy makers and business
heads to discuss key priorities for the Race Online 2012 strategy and the city's drive to address digital inclusion in achieving economic recovery.

www.digitalbirmingham.co.uk.