Cabinet Office minister Douglas Alexander has launched a Hansard Society report, "Past the post: Older people and new technology" at an event in the House of Commons.

The research "demonstrates the success that older people can achieve in mastering new technology, but also highlights the very real problems that they can face", said the Hansard Society's Mark Rickard.

Forum Response: Counsel and Care

Martin Green, chief executive of Counsel and Care, told ePolitix.com: "I welcome the Hansard Society report and agree with its findings. It is to be remembered that many of today's older people were in the vanguard of new technologies and for like all of us, all they need is some support and encouragement."

Forum Response: Help the Aged

Mervyn Kohler, head of public affairs at Help the Aged, said: "The Internet has the potential to be a significant source of support to housebound or mobility-impaired people, but it is still not reaching them in anything like the right numbers. The recent call by the National Audit Office for the e-Envoy to take a firmer grip on the ways to bring older and disabled people into the new world of information and communications technology was long overdue."

Forum Response: Age Concern

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern England, said: "Participation in the Internet revolution is an important factor in the full social inclusion of older people.

"This participation will need to increase as more public services and political consultation is carried out on-line. We are proud to be a partner in the Seniorspeak online consultation and welcome the positive results that this report demonstrates in terms of older people's political engagement and participation.

"However, while older people potentially stand to benefit most from the Internet, they are less likely than younger age groups to get on-line.

"The reasons are not straightforward and may include insufficient income, difficulties with vision and hand movements, or a perception, if they did not use IT at work or school, that IT is not relevant to them.

"This further demonstrates that the E-Envoy should set and monitor specific targets for older people's usage of the Internet and that the government should explore ways of positively marketing its benefits to them."