Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Digital Divide

Monday 14 March 2022 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The government delivered over 1.9 million devices to educational institutions for disadvantaged students during the pandemic.
  • The Department invested 520 million and partnered with mobile operators to provide free data to more than 33,000 children and supplied over 100,000 4G routers.
  • The government welcomes the continuation of zero-rating educational data services and is committed to working with DCMS to support this in the long term.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Siobhain McDonagh Lab Mitcham and Morden
Education
Context

The digital gap in education became evident during the pandemic as schools moved to remote learning. Schools like Ursuline High School were well-prepared, but others lacked necessary devices.

Question

What steps are being taken to help close the digital divide for children without access to the internet or adequate devices at home? When schools closed due to lockdowns, the shift to online education highlighted disparities in technology readiness. Schools such as Ursuline High School were ahead with tablets and remote learning capabilities from day one, but others struggled. For students still lacking proper equipment, what support is provided for equipping schools with the necessary skills and resources?

Answer from Robin Walker

We have delivered over 1.9 million devices to educational institutions for disadvantaged students during the pandemic, along with a £520 million investment. Additionally, we partnered with mobile operators to provide free data to more than 33,000 children and supplied over 100,000 4G routers. The 1.9 million devices complemented existing 2.9 million devices in schools. We will collaborate with other departments to ensure disadvantaged households receive necessary technology.

Answered
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Q2 Siobhain McDonagh Lab Mitcham and Morden
Education
Context

During lockdowns, some schools were well-equipped for remote learning while others struggled due to a lack of devices. The digital gap widened, impacting student attainment.

Question

Aside from emergency lockdown devices, what additional support is being provided to equip schools with skills and resources to ensure no child is left behind in the technological world?

Answer from Robin Walker

We recognize the importance of reaching out and providing help where possible. We provided 1.9 million devices on top of existing 2.9 million in schools, ensuring that equipment is available. We will continue to work with other departments to ensure disadvantaged households get the technology they need.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Ongoing support and specific actions for equipping schools are not detailed

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Q3 Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South
Education Economy
Context

The Education Secretary announced the repurposing of Oak National Academy to provide UK-wide online learning. With rising household bills due to cost-of-living crisis and 1.1 million households struggling with broadband affordability, there is concern about data usage adding to these expenses.

Question

Families facing high costs need assurance that data used for educational purposes will not increase their bills further. Can the Minister guarantee that services supporting learning will remain zero-rated indefinitely?

Answer from Robin Walker

We welcome the fact that zero-rating is continuing and we are committed to working closely with DCMS to support this over the longer term. We see Oak National Academy as a valuable tool for online support to pupils.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Long-term commitment to zero-rating not explicitly stated

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