§ Mr. Batisteasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to promote training for teachers in computer skills.
§ Mr. Chris PattenMy right hon. Friend will be supporting through the in-service teacher training grants scheme from September this year 90 per cent. of the replacement costs of teachers attending approved courses on teaching computing and microelectronics and training in the uses of microelectronics across the curriculum. A wide range of other in-service training courses in computing is supported by our system for pooling local authority training costs. In addition we are providing £3 million this financial year to fund the microelectronics education support unit, which will assist with the training of teachers, provide a central resource of information and develop curriculum materials across the whole area of new technology in schools. This work builds upon the highly successful microelectronics education programme.