Entrepreneur sets out to get everyone in the country online

The co-founder of lastminute.com, now the UK's Digital Champion, has announced plans to get every working-age person using the web by 2012.

She said around 10 million Britons have never used the internet, nearly half of whom are among the most disadvantaged in society.

Ms Lane Fox wants to see local digital champions in all local authorities, all 750 Jobcentre Plus offices and all public libraries by the end of the year.

She is also calling on retailers to provide tailored internet packages for people on low incomes and the elderly.

The businesswoman said: "It is a challenge for people and organisations in every corner of our country to inspire, encourage and support as many new people as possible to get online by the end of the Olympic year.

"I would like to see everyone who is looking for work online, as well as everyone who is about to retire. This ambition would create real social change.

"Research shows that if everyone was online, total benefits will be in excess of 22bn with households saving on average 560 a year."

Ms Lane Fox said she had specific recommendations about how everybody could be got online. "Leadership in this area is extremely important – there are many people in Government who can't use the internet and we are asking for commitments from the public and private sector to make sure their employees are able to use the web."

She suggested computers in schools could be made available to give people internet access after lessons have finished.