The Scottish Government have been told it must do more to tackle digital exclusion with one in six adults lacking the necessary skills needed for every day life.

With more key services moving online, public bodies have been told it must make better use of technology to deliver their service. A new joint report from the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission has been published on digital exclusion in Scotland and the stats show that nine percent of households do not have an internet connection.

One of the major causes of digital exclusion is poverty and other financial difficulties with those on lower incomes and living in areas of high deprivation less likely to have access to the internet. Age is also a key factor with people who are retired and aged over 65 years less likely to use the internet. People with disabilities, people who live alone and people who receive benefits are also less likely to use the internet.

Other key stats show that only 69% of households with an annual income of less than £10,000 have internet access compared with 99% of households with income more than £40,000.

Analysis of UK wide data shows that of the people who don’t use the internet at home, or elsewhere, are largely made up of over 65s at 72%. Some of these people may belong to more than one group with 58% living alone, 51% reporting that they have a disability and 47% are in receipt of benefits. 55% are in the most deprived socio-economic group.

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It means that not everyone can access the services they needed with so much of it moving online and the Government and public bodies have been told to help solve that issue.

It’s said to have a ‘severe impact’ on people’s lives and the report says the Scottish Government and COSLA need to work to ‘mitigate the harms caused by inequalities’ by the end of 2024/25.

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland said: “Digital technology is at the heart of public service reform. Increasing efficiency is vital to ensure services can be delivered cost-efficiently, at a time of ever-intensifying budget and service pressures.

“To achieve this, the Scottish Government must have clear actions to tackle and mitigate the impacts of digital exclusion. Failing to do so risks marginalising the most vulnerable people in our communities. Those who most depend on public services must be at the forefront of the Government’s plans to reform how services are delivered.”

The report also states that the Scottish Government had worked well with public bodies and local councils to fight digital exclusion during the Covid-19 pandemic and invested £50 million in access to devices, data and skills. Concerns about the work done since then have been raised further, though, and its said that a national digital strategy launched in March 2021 ‘lacks a clear action plan’ and ‘not enough is being done’.

It's also said that it is ‘currently unclear across local and Scottish Government, and the third sector, who is responsible for delivering Scotland’s national digital strategy’.

Recommendations have now been made to the Scottish Government, COSLA, public bodies such as NHS boards and councils on how to solve the issue.

That includes telling the Government and COSLA to have a ‘refreshed digital strategy’ and to ‘develop a clear action plan’ while ‘reviewing and refocusing governance arrangements. Other ideas include working with the UK Government, Ofcom and internet and mobile providers to ‘explore ways to promote and improve access to social tariffs’.

For public bodies including NHS Boards and councils, they have been told they must ‘build digital inclusion considerations into strategies and design for digital services and reform, aligned with Scottish Digital Services Standards, and carry out equality and human rights impact assessments’ as well as providing ‘clear digital and non-digital methods people can use to access the services they need’

Nichola Brown, Member of the Accounts Commission said: “Councils across Scotland, working collaboratively with local public, private and third sector partners, must be clearer about how they will reduce digital exclusion in their local area.

“COSLA has a vital role in setting out clear commitments and actions to support councils to deliver on digital.”

Scottish Labour Social Justice spokesperson Paul O’Kane said: “This report sets out the high cost of failing to tackle digital exclusion – but the SNP government is set to raid digital exclusion funds for the second year in a row.

“It is the most marginalised communities in Scotland that will pay the price for the SNP’s broken promises on this important issue.

“The SNP must listen to this stark warning and set out a real plan to break down the barriers that risk locking vulnerable people out of vital public services.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We welcome the report and will consider its findings and recommendations.

“Tackling digital exclusion remains a priority and we have allocated £10 million for 2025-26 to help our most disadvantaged families with devices, internet access and skills.

“Our Digital Inclusion Alliance is undertaking in-depth analysis to identify and address any gaps in support from public, private and third sectors.

“The Scottish Government also supports connectivity projects, including a £28.75 million initiative which delivered 4G infrastructure and services in 55 mobile phone signal blackspots.”