Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Internet Access (Children Eligible for Free School Meals)

01 November 2022 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Siobhain McDonagh Lab Mitcham and Morden

EducationEconomyEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Siobhain McDonagh raised concerns about internet access (children eligible for free school meals) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • The internet is essential for work, entertainment, shopping, paying bills, and social interactions.
  • Children eligible for free school meals face a digital divide, lacking broadband and devices.
  • During the pandemic, the number of children without devices increased from 9% to 1.78 million.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Siobhain McDonagh Lab Mitcham and Morden

The technological advance in our society has made the internet essential for work, entertainment, shopping, bills, and social connections. However, a digital divide exists where children eligible for free school meals lack access to broadband and devices. During the pandemic, this gap widened significantly with 9% of children without access to devices before lockdowns and up to 1.78 million during lockdowns. This disparity led to educational inequalities as remote learning was not accessible for many disadvantaged students, widening the attainment gap further. The Bill aims to place a duty on the Secretary of State to ensure these children have adequate broadband connections and facilities at home.

Other contributors (1)
  • Siobhain McDonagh Lab Mitcham and Morden

    The technological advance in our society has made the internet essential for work, entertainment, shopping, bills, and social connections. However, a digital divide exists where children eligible for free school meals lack access to broadband and devices. During the pandemic, this gap widened significantly with 9% of children without access to devices before lockdowns and up to 1.78 million during lockdowns. This disparity led to educational inequalities as remote learning was not accessible for many disadvantaged students, widening the attainment gap further.

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