It is normal practice when a Government Department proposes to make a gift of a value exceeding £250,000 for the Department concerned to present to the House of Commons a Minute giving particulars of the gift and explaining the circumstances; and to refrain from making the gift until 14 days (exclusive of Saturdays and Sundays) after the issue of the Minute, except in cases of special urgency.

The Department for Education and Skills wishes to gift communication aid equipment to 4,193 children in England with significant communication difficulties and/or disabilities, purchased and loaned to them as part of the Communication Aids Project (CAP), which commenced in April 2002 and ceased in March 2006. CAP was designed to improve the children’s access to the curriculum and other educational opportunities, help their social interaction, and help them at points of transition (moving school or moving from school into further studies or employment).

The specialist assistive technology equipment purchased and loaned under CAP was tailored to the individual child’s assessed needs. It was therefore ‘personal’ to the individual child, and intended to remain with them as they progressed through and beyond the education system. The equipment also forms part of a wider package of support provided under CAP which included specialised assessment, training and instruction, designed to ensure that the potential and application of the equipment was fully understood and realised.

Following the closure of CAP in March, the equipment in question remains with the children to whom it was allocated. In order to ensure that they can continue to draw benefit from assistive technology geared to their particular needs, the Government intend to permanently gift the equipment to the recipients. The total value of the gift being made, taking account of depreciation, is £3,457,575.

The Treasury has approved the proposed gift in principle. If during the period of 14 days (exclusive of Saturdays and Sundays) beginning on the date on which this Minute was laid before the House of Commons a Member signifies an objection by giving notice of a Parliamentary Question or of a Motion relating to the Minute, or by otherwise raising the matter in the House, final approval of the gift will be withheld pending an examination of the objection.