UNISON Ulearn Northern Ireland

Gordon Brown scrapped the Home Computing Initiative in last week’s budget. This tax break scheme allowed staff to purchase a computer through their employer, and pay for it from their salary. This is a scheme which was about to be run for staff in Down Lisburn Trust, UCHT and United Hospitals Trust, with the plan to roll it out more widely in later in the year. Please sign the petition to keep this scheme going.

Although the scheme has been available for around four years, it was particularly slow to take off in Northern Ireland. UNISON members have been able to take advantage of the scheme in a few Education & Library Boards and Trusts where it did run, and they were extremely happy with the deal they got and the technical support they received.

The Office of the First Minister & Deputy First Minister intended to roll out the initiative in April in Down Lisburn Trust, Ulster Community Health Trust and United Hospitals Trust. In September they hoped to extend the scheme even further. However, Gordon Brown’s announcement has resulted in those oppportunities no longer being available. UNISON supports the Home Computing Initiative scheme because it particularly benefits lower paid workers who are less likely to have the financial means to buy a computer. We believe that withdrawl of this scheme with no warning and no proposed replacement has denied thousands of our members across Northern Ireland the opportunity to embrace the digital age.   We invite you to sign the online petition which will be sent to Government Ministers. Please click http://www.petitiononline.com/hci/petition.html