Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answers of 2 November 2021 to Questions 62860 and 62861 on Remote Education, whether the Department’s Get Help with Remote Education guidance actively supports the use of (a) Google and (b) Microsoft products over challenger companies.

The guidance shares details of the digital platforms programme, which informs a school how to apply for a platform through our partners Microsoft and Google. Schools are also free to consider other providers with chargeable services in this area to deliver specific elements of online education, where they see fit.

The digital platforms programme is closing to new applications on 30 November 2021, after which schools can continue to apply for free licensing of the Microsoft and Google platforms, directly with those companies, or seek alternatives.