Most older people never log on

The government is spending £6bn on making all its public services available electronically by 2006.

But fewer than one out of every six people above the age of 65 have ever visited a website or sent an e-mail, the National Audit Office (NAO) says.

That compares to more than nine out of every 10 people aged between 15 and 25 who have accessed the internet.

E-services are potentially a great boon to older people Sir John Bourn NAO

NAO head Sir John Bourn said ministers must work to reverse this "digital divide".

"E-services are potentially a great boon to older people many of whom have mobility problems, have difficulty in gaining access to sources of information, live alone or want to remain independent and involved."

Conservative David Davis, shadow deputy prime minister, said the fact many government websites failed to "incorporate design features that would make it easier for older people to use them" showed "Labour's inability to make investments of taxpayers' money work".

And Age Concern England director general Gordon Lishman called on the government to "set and monitor specific targets for older people's usage of the internet" and "explore ways of positively marketing its benefits to them".