Press Release

Voice welcomes Brown's computer access scheme

23 September 2008

Voice: the union for education professionals has given a cautious welcome to reports that Gordon Brown will announce, in his speech to the Labour Party Conference today (Tuesday 23 September 2008), measures to improve children's access to computers and the Internet.

General Secretary Philip Parkin said: "We welcome this major step forward that should help children to access the huge online knowledge base - a vast public library for the modern age.  Computers and Internet access are essential tools that define how we learn, communicate and work.  

"However, I have a number of concerns. It seems that the funding for this has been found from savings elsewhere in DCSF budgets. Such a key and radical initiative should not be funded by penny-pinching scrimping. I hope that other important work will not suffer as a result. The scheme must be sustainable. One-off funding - found by robbing Peter to pay Paul - will not last. The funding needs to be in place for the future in order to sustain the initiative.

"The Government must also work with the telecommunications industry to ensure that broadband is available for all children. There are still rural areas without broadband access. Distributing vouchers won't help if your village doesn't have broadband. Those children should not miss out.

"Who will decide which children will be given the vouchers?  As with other voucher schemes, those just above the cut-off point miss out, with those below benefiting and those on higher incomes not needing the financial support.  Some form of sliding scale of vouchers might be appropriate."