HC Deb 06 February 1989 vol 146 c460W
Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make available copies of the report produced by the National Council for Education Technology on the compatibility of computer hardware and software for local education authorities.

Mr. Butcher

This report was commissioned by the Department to inform the guidance given to local education authorities on microcomputers for educational use in schools. Consideration is being given to how the information contained in the report can be conveyed most effectively to LEAs.

Mr. Jack

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in theOfficial Report full details of the educational support grants he made to Lancashire county council in 1987 and 1988 for the purchase of micro computers; and if he will show which of these was capable of running MS-DOS software.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend approved education support grant expenditure by Lancashire LEA on the purchase of microcomputers in 1987–88 and 1988–89 as follows:

Activity 1987–88£ thousands 1988–89 £ thousands
IT in NAFE 63.5 —
Micro equipment for FE students with special educational needs 14.0 —
IT in schools — 267.4
It is for authorities to decide, in consultation with Her Majesty's Inspectorate as appropriate, what machines and software are best suited to their needs. DES guidance to LEAs is that new computers purchased under the IT in Schools programme should offer access to MS-DOS, but this is not mandatory.