HC Deb 12 May 1998 vol 312 cc85-6W
Mr. Ian Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what technological barriers have been developed by his Department in the introduction of the National Grid for Learning, to secure children from access and exposure to unsuitable and damaging Internet material. [41345]

Dr. Howells

The Department has commissioned the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency to publish good practice guidance on the use of information and communications technologies in schools. This includes up to date advice on installing controlling software on classroom computers as well as more general advice on access by pupils to the Internet. LEAs and schools are required as a condition of the Standards Fund grant for the National Grid for Learning to have in place policies on protecting pupils from on-line access to undesirable materials. Industry is of course sensitive to the need to develop improved mechanisms to screen out such material.

Mr. Ian Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provisions have been made to monitor children's use of classroom computers when searching the Internet. [41347]

Dr. Howells

The Department has commissioned the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency to publish good practice guidance on the use of information and communications technologies in schools. This includes advice on proper monitoring of pupil's use of the Internet in the classroom. LEAs and schools are required as a condition of the Standards Fund grant for the National Grid for Learning to have in place policies on protecting pupils from on-line access to undesirable materials.

Mr. Ian Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what financial provision he will make available to local education authorities to meet the costs of(a) installing and (b) maintaining the National Grid for Learning in their area. [41346]

Dr. Howells

The Government are supporting £100 million of ICT-related expenditure by LEA-maintained schools in 1998–99 through the Standards Fund. By building on LEAs' own development plans for information and communications technology (ICT) and those of their schools these grants will help schools to gain access to the National Grid for Learning by enabling them progressively to improve their provision. Support for future years will be determined in the light of the outcomes of consultation on the NGfL and the progress of overall strategy.