§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of(a) secondary and (b) primary schools in rural areas have a broadband connection. [129359]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe information is not yet held in the format requested but feedback from Regional Broadband Consortia currently indicates that a significant number of rural schools are already connected to broadband using a range of technologies including radio and satellite. The Department has requested specific information from Regional Broadband Consortia and local education authorities, which, when compiled by November 2003, will give the percentage of rural schools connected.
In England, 91 per cent. of secondary schools are connected at a minimum of 2 megabits per second, as are 26 per cent. of primary schools.
The Department is supporting the Government's Broadband Aggregation Project launched in July 2003, which will see the formation of nine Regional Aggregation Bodies tasked with aggregating demand and procuring broadband across the public sector. The project's two key aims are to ensure best value for the public sector's 1 billion investment in broadband and to help stimulate supply in areas where very little broadband is available. The Regional Aggregation Bodies and the Broadband Aggregation Project should significantly improve access to broadband by rural schools.