§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people on low incomes have(a) bought and (b) leased a reconditioned computer under the scheme announced in March 2000. [160216]
§ Mr. Wills[holding answer 3 May 2001]: No new schemes were specifically announced in March 2000, but the Department is running a number f relevant schemes, such as computers within reach, wi[...]red-up communities and other small-scale pilots. So far, 6,000 computers have been made available in the pilot areas in which the schemes are taking place. Contractors currently have lists totalling 19,000 clients, who have already been assessed for their eligibility for the schemes and who will receive their computers over the next few months.
There are also plans to allocate further PCs in addition to the number indicated above and we are currently reviewing the approach to distributing recycled computers in the light of experience so far of these schemes.