Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Children in Asylum Accommodation: Remote Learning

Monday 1 March 2021 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Get Help with Technology programme provides 4G wireless routers to disadvantaged children in England, including those in asylum accommodation, to access the internet.
  • The Home Office is responsible for ensuring wi-fi availability in asylum accommodation.
  • Over 1 million laptops and tablets have been delivered to schools and local authorities as of 15 February.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anne McLaughlin SNP
Asylum & Refugees Children & Families
Context

Children living in asylum accommodation face challenges accessing remote learning due to limited or no wi-fi.

Question

What support has the Government provided to ensure that children living in asylum accommodation with limited or no wi-fi during covid-19 lockdowns are able to access remote learning?

Answer from Nick Gibb

The Get Help with Technology programme is helping disadvantaged children in England without a connection at home, including those living in asylum accommodation, to access the internet. We have delivered more than 60,000 4G wireless routers and are partnering with the UK's leading mobile operators to provide free data uplifts.

Answered
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Q2 Anne McLaughlin SNP
Asylum & Refugees Children & Families
Context

Wi-fi is not standard in asylum accommodation, affecting long-term access to online learning. The questioner seeks assurance on government readiness to address this issue.

Question

Wi-fi is not a standard feature in asylum accommodation. As more and more learning is done online, even outside of the pandemic, is the Minister prepared to work with counterparts in the Home Office to ensure that all children in the asylum system are able to access digital learning opportunities, so that they do not fall behind and are able to integrate as quickly as possible?

Answer from Nick Gibb

Yes, of course. The Home Office is in charge of the asylum seeker estate, and it does ensure that wi-fi is available. In terms of schools generally, as of 15 February, more than 1 million laptops and tablets have been delivered to schools and local authorities. It is one of the biggest procurement exercises of its kind, with 1 million computers built to order and shipped to Britain, with software added before being delivered. The process started last April, and throughout the summer and autumn we continued to order more and more computers, as we prepared for future contingencies.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request about collaboration with Home Office was not directly addressed.

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