DARWEN MP Jake Berry has asked Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith if there are any plans for cheap internet access for social housing tenants.

Mr Berry raised the issue during a question and answer session with the minister in the House of Commons.

He said: “With 70 per cent of social housing tenants having no access to the internet, will the Secretary of State update the House on what progress he is making for a low or no-cost social housing tariff to be overlaid on the existing BT Basic package to enable social housing tenants to access universal credit online?”

Replying, Mr Duncan Smith said: “In fact, many more people access the internet daily than a lot of people think. Some 78 per cent of all benefit recipients access the internet, and about 48 per cent do so on a daily basis.

“Obviously it is our job to try to get that figure up, because if people cannot access the internet, that affects their employment prospects given that 92 per cent of all jobs require some computer skills.

“We are looking...to make sure that those who need the money get it directly.”