§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in light of the recent study by the Open University and Staffordshire University, they believe that, of the 524 secondary schools surveyed, 1.7 per cent of budgets spent on information communication technology compared with 0.8 per cent spent on books represents an appropriate balance. [HL261]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandSchools, rather than government, are best placed to determine how to make use of their budgets to achieve an appropriate balance between ICT, books and other resources. It is reasonable, however, to expect such expenditure to be co-ordinated in a whole-school approach that enables teachers to make use of new technologies alongside traditional media to deliver a rich blend of learning that engages and inspires every young person to succeed.