§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which of the following microcomputers sold and used for educational purposes have the facility, when used with their manufacturers', or other commercially available disc drive systems, of automatic power-on bootstrap 305W loading of the disc operating system and user's programme, distinguishing those which have the facility as supplied by the manufacturer, and those where the facility can be added through widely available programme enhancements or commercially available electronics; APPLE, Cromemco, Osi Challenger, PET-Commodore Drives, PET-Computhink Drives, Tandy TRS-80, ITT 2020, North Star, Research Machines 380z and Tanberg.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThis information is not available within my Department and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the commercially available music synthesiser packages—hardware and software only—for the following microcomputers used in schools and indicate the country of origin: APPLE, PET, Research Machines 380 Z, Tandy TRS 80, Nascom I and Nascom II, Ohio Scientific Superboard and C4P, UK 101, ATARI 400 and 800, Texas Instruments 99/4, Cromemco and Heathkit; and what steps have been taken by his Department to evaluate the comparative merits of each system for use in music teaching and music appreciation in schools.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe Department is not in a position to provide information about the availability and use of particular items of hardware or software, nor is it envisaged that the microelectronics in education development programme will include an evaluation of the comparative merits of different brands.