§ 9. Mr. Phil Sawford (Kettering)What action he is taking to combat social inequality in access to new technologies among learners. [123342]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Mr. Michael Wills)We are taking steps to ensure that, in future, every school leaver will have the opportunity to use and develop 417 competence in those new technologies. They are essential, and we have to ensure that not only those pupils who are fortunate enough to have a computer at home are able to use them. Two out of three people in socio-economic groups A and B have access to a computer at home, whereas only one in five of those in socio-economic groups D and E have access.
We are making good progress in improving computer:pupil ratios and internet access in schools. In 1997, only one primary school in six had access to the internet; today, about two thirds do. Every school in the country will have access by 2002. We are also taking action to ensure access for adults. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has given a commitment that, by 2005, all those who want it will have the opportunity to access the internet.
We are establishing about 700 computer learning centres to serve the country's 2,000 most deprived wards, and 50,000 free computer training courses are being made available to jobless—[Interruption.] I think that Conservative Members would like—[Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. Has the Minister finished?
§ Mr. WillsMadam Speaker, with your permission, I have not quite finished. We are taking important initiatives—[Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. We have reached only Question 9, and I deprecate that we are not making better progress. We have had long questions, and we have had very long answers from Ministers. Will the Minister now bring his answer to a conclusion?
§ Mr. SawfordI thank my hon. Friend for that answer and welcome his commitment to gaining the widest access to information technology. He clearly demonstrated that commitment on a recent visit to my constituency. I very much welcome his comments on the serious issue of the digital divide between those young people who have access to computers at home and those who do not. What further action can we take to encourage industry to tackle that social exclusion, and how can we monitor the effectiveness of the Government's initiatives to bring computers to those who are the many and not the few?
§ Mr. WillsI am grateful to my hon. Friend for re-emphasising the importance of tackling the digital divide. We are working with the private sector to do precisely that. I know that Conservative Members have absolutely no interest in those essential new technologies. They have proposed absolutely no policies whatsoever on them, and have demonstrated their complete lack of concern with bringing those opportunities to everyone in the United Kingdom, other than to a privileged few. They have continued to demonstrate that attitude today. The Government, however, will continue to ensure that everyone has access to those opportunities.
§ Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley)The Minister mentioned that some schools are now kitted out with internet-capable computers. I represent a partly urban and 418 partly rural constituency, where there are people who simply cannot afford to have their own computers at home or to pay online charges, even with reduced costs. What steps will he take to ensure that, when the school day ends at 3.30 pm, all those schools with computers will be opened to young people and adults so that they can access the computers?
§ Mr. WillsI am glad that at least one Conservative Member recognises the importance of the matter, and I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for acknowledging that. We particularly understand that it is sometimes difficult for schools in rural areas to have access. That is why my hon. Friends in the Department of Trade and Industry have been pushing forward development of broadband wireless as a means of accessing the internet. I think that such access will be particularly valuable for schools in the hon. Gentleman's constituency. We also have a range of initiatives designed to help schools stay open longer, so that they can provide access to those technologies in schools to the whole community. We are encouraging applications, from all communities that serve deprived areas, for new computer learning centres. I hope that there will be some applications from the hon. Gentleman's constituency.