§ 34. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements are being made to link the Internet to schools and libraries; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [2633]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorIt is estimated that close to 2,000 schools are already linked to the Internet. My Department has supported an industry-led scheme not only to link 60 schools in a pilot scheme, but to focus and channel the vast amount of material available on the worldwide web so that it can help teachers deliver the national curriculum. The total cost of the "Schools On Line" pilot, which runs through to easter 1996 is around £1 million, of which 50 per cent. comes from the companies and 50 per cent. from DTI. There are also projects involving the Internet in the superhighways for education initiative announced on 13 November.
The Director General of Telecommunications will be issuing a consultative paper in December on the future of the universal service obligation. One possibility is that the level of universal service for schools could be raised to cover a specified level of connection to the information superhighway, using a fund compatible with the operation of a competitive market.
As for public libraries, this is an issue for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage. I understand it is being considered as part of the wider public library review about which there will shortly be a statement.