Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the announcement on 19 April that they will provide laptops, tablets and 4G routers to vulnerable children across the UK, how many children at primary and secondary schools have received these items; and what percentage that number constitutes of the total number of those in need.

The Government has committed over £100 million to support remote education, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G routers to vulnerable and disadvantaged children in England to access educational resources and social services.

We are providing laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children and families who would otherwise not have access and are receiving support from a social worker, including pre-school children and families; are a care leaver; or are preparing for examination in Year 10.

Where care leavers, children and families with a social worker at secondary school and children in Year 10 do not have internet connections, we will be providing 4G routers.

The Department has allocated devices to Responsible Bodies based on its estimates of the number of eligible children that do not have a device. Local authorities, academy trusts and other relevant organisations overseeing schools have been given guidance on how to request and order devices. We believe that local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to identify and prioritise children and young people who need devices.

We are working to provide these devices in the shortest possible timeframe.