Japan is planning to hand out almost £2bn worth of IT vouchers to lure its internet-allergic population on to the web.

The giveaway is part of a plan to reinvent Japan as the world's leading internet nation, but critics say the scheme merely throws taxpayers' money into cyberspace.

Under the proposal, the government will distribute 6,000 yen (£40) vouchers to about 30m people over the age of 20 which will cover half the cost of a course on how to become cyber-savvy.

Despite its reputation as a technological giant, Japan has a great deal of ground to make up. Only 13% of the population uses the internet. The prime minister, Yoshiro Mori, who recently confused IT with "it", sent his first email in June.