HC Deb 19 February 1992 vol 204 cc182-3W
Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he intends to offer financial assistance for CD-ROM applications for the blind and visually handicapped; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Fallon

Yes. My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 25 January a scheme to be jointly funded by the Department, the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the Open university to develop software to give blind and visually handicapped pupils full access to CD-ROM materials. The scheme is being managed by the National Council for Educational Technology.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he intends to offer further financial support for the CD-ROM application development scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Fallon

Yes. As part of the Government's scheme to introduce and extend the curriculum use of CD-ROM technology in schools, the Department has invited the National Council for Educational Technology to commission the development of a number of new curriculum discs directly supporting the national curriculum. The Department is making £700,000 available towards the costs which will be shared with the disc developers and publishers.