HC Deb 10 November 2000 vol 356 c437W
Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many subsidised recycled computers will be made available at low personal cost to low-income families living in each of the four constituencies of Wirral over the next three months; [137727]

(2) how many subsidised recycled computers have been made available at low personal cost to low-income families (a) in total and (b) living in each of the four constituencies of Wirral, since March 1999. [137728]

Mr. Wills

I announced the commencement of the Computers Within Reach scheme on 25 october 2000 for those on certain benefits who were seeking to gain or retain employment. The first phase of the scheme will provide up to 35,000 recycled PCs in various areas in England until 31 March 2001. Potential applicants have been asked to contact the free telephone helpline 08080 100 900 in the first instance. The PCs will be delivered following the applications being processed by the relevant regional contractor. I am writing to all hon. Members with details of the scheme and the pilot areas to be covered in this first phase. The PCs will be provided in areas where there are locally based groups that made a successful bid to be part of the scheme. The Wirral constituencies are not in an area currently covered by a bid.

The first phase pilots are located in areas within the following locations: Birmingham, Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Knowsley, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Sheffield.