§ 20. Mr. HealeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress in the implementation of the National Grid for Learning. [75595]
§ Mr. MudiePlans for the National Grid for Learning are developing towards achievement of the targets announced in the National Grid for Learning Challenge "Open for Learning, Open for Business", launched in November 1998 by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
Over £700 million will be allocated for schools purchase of ICT networking and infrastructure by the year 2002. This funding will enable all schools to be connected to the grid by 2002, and will provide them with on-line access to a wide range of educational and managerial resources.
The Department published last year the results of a survey of ICT provision in schools, which indicated that 17 per cent. of primary schools and 83 per cent. of secondary schools were connected to the Internet by March 1998. This is in comparison to the previous year's survey (published in 1997), which indicated that 5 per cent. of primary schools and 47 per cent. of secondary schools were connected to the Internet at that time. Subsequent annual surveys will indicate the growth of schools with such connections. The latest estimates are that approximately 30 per cent. of primary schools, 90 per cent. of secondary schools and 45 per cent. of special schools in England may currently have some form of Internet access. The Government are committed to ensuring that all schools are connected to the Internet by 2002.