To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent assessment of the level of access to broadband at home is for (a) all primary school pupils and (b) primary school pupils from lower income households. (250606)

The most recent research¹ published by the Department found that 90 per cent. of parents of school-aged children in England reported that they had computer and internet access at home. Among parents of primary age children the figure was 89 per cent. for parents of children in Key Stage 1, and 88 per cent. for children in Key Stage 2.

¹ Peters et al, Parental Involvement in Children's Education, London, DCSF, 2007

www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RR034.pdf

The research showed a variation in connectivity by social class. Among parents in social class E, 69 per cent. had a computer with internet access. The research did not distinguish broadband and dial-up connectivity. However Government statistics² show that most UK households with internet connectivity have a broadband connection: 65 percent of households had any Internet access and 56 per cent. had broadband access.

² National Statistics Omnibus Survey 2008

www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=8