Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the reported digital learning divide; and what plans they have to increase funding for technology within schools.

As part of the government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are investing over £400 million to support access to remote education and online social care services, including securing 1.3 million laptops and tablets for disadvantaged children and young people. To date, over 1.29 million laptops and tablets have been delivered to schools, trusts, local authorities and further education providers.

The department has also partnered with the UK’s leading mobile operators to provide free data to help disadvantaged children to have online access as well as delivering 4G wireless routers for pupils without connection at home.

We are building on the foundations of the department’s significant investment in technology and exploring future options, which we will set out in due course.