HC Deb 13 December 1984 vol 69 cc553-4W
Mr. Greenway

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on micro computers in schools in each of the last five years; how many computers were procured for the money; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Butcher

The Department of Trade and Industry has spent some £13.4 million on the various micros in schools schemes over the past five years. The detailed figures are as follows:

£ million
1980–81 nil
1981–82 1.2
1982–83 3.3
1983–84 6.7
1984–85* 2.2
13.4
* To date.

6,511 computers were provided to secondary schools under the schemes representing almost all secondary schools. To the end of November, just under 26,000 primary schools had applied for a computer out of an estimated 27,000 primary schools. The relevant offer to primary schools closes at the end of 1984 and it is anticipated that the majority of the remaining thousand will apply.

The figures represent assistance towards schools in purchasing computers, monitors and printers and a range of peripheral equipment.

These figures represent a considerable investment in educational micro-computing. They represent, however, only a small proportion of total spend in this area as schools have brought considerable numbers of additional micro-computers from their own resources and latest figures available suggest that the average number of micro-computers per secondary school is about 10. The average in primary schools is approximately 1.8. In addition, the Department of Education and Science and the Scottish Education Department have provided considerable financial support through the Micro-electronics Education Programme and the Scottish Micro-electronics Development Programme which have provided resources for curriculum development, software and teacher training.

As a result of these initiatives, the United Kingdom has a more advanced educational IT programme than any comparable country. No other country has a similar level of penetration within schools and most experts believe that United Kingdom educational software in particular is the most advanced in the World. The use of the computer as a teaching aid throughout the curriculum is a particular strength of the United Kingdom programme.