Micros in Schools Scheme (Hansard, 18 October 1982)

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what would be the estimated cost of extending the micros in schools scheme to allow schools to purchase up to six BBC microcomputers instead of one RML 380Z.

§ Mr. Butcher:
The estimated extra cost of allowing schools to purchase up to six BBC microcomputers under 13W the micros in schools scheme for secondary schools is £2 million. The scheme is designed to enable every secondary school to obtain one microcomputer package chosen from two options, with 50 per cent. support from the Department of Industry.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has any proposals to extend the micros in schools scheme to allow schools to vary their purchases within the specified range of equipment but up to the cost of the most expensive machine currently allowed.

§ Mr. Butcher:
There are no proposals to change the present micros in schools scheme for secondary schools to allow schools to vary their purchases. Each secondary school may select one of the two packages on offer. To date more than 95 per cent. of secondary schools have participated in this successful scheme which is due to close for applications at the end of 1982. The two available packages were selected to meet educational needs and deliberately include a more and a less expensive package to cater for variations and the availability of funds to schools. The scheme as it stands is successfully meeting these requirements within the public funds available.

1979 1980 1981

£M ℅ £M ℅ £ ℅

ENGLAND 76.29 46.8 75.03 48.9 71.94 37.1

of which

Northern Region 25.71 15.8 25.12 16.4 37.09 19.1

North-West region 34.33 21.1 28.94 18.9 13.88 7.2

Yorkshire and Humberside region 7.24 4.4 18.21 11.9 9.88 5.1

East Midlands region 1.03 0.6 0.69 0.4 4.61 2.4

West Midlands region 0.04 - 0.30 0.2 - -

South-West region 7.94 4.9 1.77 1.1 6.48 3.3

SCOTLAND 37.17 22.8 26.69 17.4 69.05 35.7

WALES 21.72 13.4 32.47 21.2 24.84 12.8

NORTHERN IRELAND 27.75 17.0 19.22 12.5 27.92 14.4

TOTAL UK 162.93 100.0 153.41 100.0 193.75 100.0

	1979	1980	1981
	£M	℅	£M	℅	£	℅
ENGLAND	76.29	46.8	75.03	48.9	71.94	37.1
of which
Northern Region	25.71	15.8	25.12	16.4	37.09	19.1
North-West region	34.33	21.1	28.94	18.9	13.88	7.2
Yorkshire and Humberside region	7.24	4.4	18.21	11.9	9.88	5.1
East Midlands region	1.03	0.6	0.69	0.4	4.61	2.4
West Midlands region	0.04	-	0.30	0.2	-	-
South-West region	7.94	4.9	1.77	1.1	6.48	3.3
SCOTLAND	37.17	22.8	26.69	17.4	69.05	35.7
WALES	21.72	13.4	32.47	21.2	24.84	12.8
NORTHERN IRELAND	27.75	17.0	19.22	12.5	27.92	14.4
TOTAL UK	162.93	100.0	153.41	100.0	193.75	100.0