Four in ten homes steer clear of Web

New government statistics show the UK is fostering its own digital divide with four in ten homes now without Web access.

Figures from the ONS found 43 per cent of households had no Internet connectivity. In Scotland, the figure rose to 52 per cent. The South East remained the most connected region with only 33 per cent of homes Web-less.

The two main reasons for lack of Internet access were 'I don't need it' and 'I don't have the necessary skills'. Other reasons included lack of equipment and having Internet access elsewhere.

Thirty per cent of men reported never having been on the Internet, while 40 per cent of women said the same.

Conversely, the population of Broadband Britain is also growing apace with high-speed Internet now making up more than 72 per cent of connections.

There are now nearly 14 million households on either dial-up or broadband, with 60 per cent of Britons saying they have accessed the Web in the last six months.

The Brits' favourite reason to use the Web is to search for information on goods and services, followed by emailing.