McCARTNEY SALUTES READING'S MODERNISING TRAILBLAZERS

Cabinet Office Minister Ian McCartney today praised a trailblazing Modernising Government project in Reading which opens a new world of opportunities for people to access computers and the internet.

He was at Southcote community centre, one of 1,200 UK Online centres officially launched by the Government last week, to meet the volunteer staff and customers. The centres make internet access and e-mail facilities a reality in communities across the country.

The Southcote centre particularly targets the unemployed, people between jobs and retired or part-time workers looking to increase their skills.

It is part of the Prime Minister's  UK Online campaign which aims to get all Government services online by 2005, ensure universal access to the internet by that date and to make Britain one of the world's leading knowledge economies.