Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many digital devices his Department plans to supply to further education colleges in England; and when the full allocation will be supplied by.

The government is 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.

This includes over 800,000 laptops and tablets that were delivered to schools, academy trusts and local authorities by 17 January.

The department has already provided 4G wireless routers, with free data for the academic year, to schools, trusts and local authorities and continue to provide 4G wireless routers where children need to access remote education.

Disadvantaged learners aged 16-19 in schools and further education colleges are supported through the 16-19 bursary fund. During the 2020 summer term, we enabled schools and further education colleges to boost their bursary fund to meet any extra costs for student technology needs.

We have now extended the Get Help with Technology scheme to provide disadvantaged 16 to 19 year olds with technological support.

We expect to be able to invite most eligible further education providers, including colleges, sixth form colleges and school sixth forms, to order devices before the end of January. Other further education providers, such as independent training providers and special post-16 institutions, will also be in the frame if they have learners receiving free school meals.