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SNP-Green efforts to tackle digital exclusion ‘ditched’, say Labour

SCOTLAND’S SNP-Green government stands accused of abandoning pledges to tackle digital exclusion, according to Labour.

In its 2021 manifesto, the SNP said that digital poverty was holding back the poorest students and pledged £5 million a year in funding to ensure every child would have “a device to get online, including a free internet connection and the support to use it.”

But a freedom of information request made by the Labour Party has revealed that not only has the commitment not been met — but its funding has been ditched “as a result of budget pressures.”

Condemning the decision, Scottish Labour’s education spokeswoman Pam Duncan-Glancy said: “This chaotic SNP-Green government has betrayed the poorest students in Scotland by ditching its flagship policies for tackling digital exclusion.

“Ensuring everyone can get online is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and giving everyone a fair chance to learn.

“The SNP has taken a wrecking ball to its last manifesto, breaking promise after promise.”

She urged the SNP-Green government to set out a new plan to tackle digital exclusion in the education system and across society.

The Scottish government was contacted for comment

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