The Scottish Executive has promised action to bridge the "digital divide" after figures revealed that just 12% of families in council properties owned a computer.

In contrast, more than 50% of Scots householders in high income areas had a computer and access to the internet.

The figures were revealed in the latest Scottish Executive survey into lifestyles.

Communities Minister Wendy Alexander said the statistics offered further weight to the executive's promise to give all Scots access to new technology and a chance to improve their job prospects.

She said: "These figures make it clear there is a 'digital divide' to fight.

"There's a wide gap between the information haves and have-nots.

"Increasingly in the future what we earn will be based on what we learn. We need to make sure that those opportunities are open to all.

On Wednesday, the Scottish Executive announced a plan to invest £23m in giving people with lower incomes access to IT training and skills.

Ms Alexander said: "The money will fund new learning centres across Scotland - websites to help people learn new skills, network and overcome exclusion."

She said the executive was seeking to involve the private sector in its programmes.

The Royal Bank of Scotland has already agreed to refurbish and donate 500 internet-ready computers to support wider web access for community schemes.

The minister said: "We're making sure that the next generation won't be left behind.

"By 2003 every school-leaver will understand IT and there will be at least four modern computers for each class.

"Figures show that we're getting there - 97% of secondary schools now have internet access - 18 months ago there was one computer for every 12 secondary pupils.

"Now that's down to one for every eight."

"We will continue to fight to make sure that Scots of every age have the tools to be winners in the information age."