Covid-19: Educational Settings Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Covid-19: Educational Settings

Bill Esterson Excerpts
Wednesday 6th January 2021

(3 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Eleanor Laing Portrait Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)
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Order. I allowed the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (Simon Fell) two questions because I could not get in quickly enough to stop the second one. From now on, one question, no speeches, no statements.

Bill Esterson Portrait Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab) [V]
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Ofqual suggests that as many as 1.78 million children do not have access to a computer. What the Education Secretary has announced today is just a 10% reduction in those numbers by the end of next week, which will still leave 1.6 million children unable to access a computer. Bridging the digital divide is essential, so when will those 1.6 million children receive their laptops, and when will he address the situation of the 900,000 children who do not have data access?

Gavin Williamson Portrait Gavin Williamson
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I refer the hon. Gentleman to my statement earlier, which covered most of the points he raises.