§ Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools have appointed technicians to assist in the running of schools' computer systems; and what estimate he has made of the number of unfilled vacancies within schools. [118235]
§ Mr. Wills[holding answers 7 April 2000]: There are no figures available for the number of primary or secondary schools that have appointed technicians to assist in the running of school computer systems, nor are there figures available for the number of unfilled vacancies. However, the Government are supporting £657 million of investment in schools' ICT provision up to 2002 as part of the National Grid for Learning initiative. This funding is devolved to schools to help enable them to address the priorities identified in their ICT development plan, including securing appropriate technical support.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if all teachers are eligible for assistance with the purchase of a computer; and if he will make a statement. [114998]
§ Mr. WillsAny serving, DfEE-registered teacher in current employment in a state maintained school in England or employed by a local education authority in a recognised teaching role who complies with the following conditions is eligible to apply for a subsidy of half the cost of specified computer packages, up to a maximum subsidy of £500, under the scheme. These conditions are
signed confirmation from the teacher, and his or her headteacher, or local education authority of this employment status;signed confirmation either that the teacher has been on, is currently attending, or is definitely scheduled to attend a New Opportunities Fund teacher training course or alternatively is a newly qualified teacher who entered initial teacher training on or after September 1998 and is therefore deemed to be competent in ICT in accordance with the ICT Subject Teacher Training National Curriculum;a signed commitment by the teacher that the computer is for his or her own use.£20 million has been made available for this scheme. The operation of the scheme is subject to the availability of funding.