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Microsoft Schools Agreement

Volume 405: debated on Monday 12 May 2003

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To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he expects to conclude a new schools agreement with Microsoft. [112432]

Microsoft and the Department have been working together since last summer to reach an agreement on a way of reducing the cost of licences to schools. This has included work via our agency BECTA on clarifying current arrangements so that schools can make appropriate decisions on the best value for them. I had a meeting with Microsoft officials on 9 April and I am currently awaiting Microsofts response to the issues raised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what effect the announcement of an Office of Fair Trading inquiry into the existing Microsoft Schools Agreement will have on negotiations about a new schools agreement between his Department and Microsoft. [112434]

The Department will cooperate fully with the OFT, and will monitor closely the progress of the inquiry. In the meantime we will continue to work with Microsoft to reach an agreement on a way of reducing the cost of licences to schools.