To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of Learning Grid programmes on the teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects in schools; what funding his Department has provided for the Learning Grid in each year since it was founded; and what plans the Government has for the future of the Learning Grid. (292513)

The evaluation report commissioned by the East Midlands Regional Development Agency, received by Government in August, does not directly address the immediate impact of the Learning Grid on the teaching programmes in schools.

The as yet unpublished report concludes that the full extent of programme impacts cannot be accurately gauged until 10-15 years into the future given that one of the key objectives of the programme is to increase the size of the skilled recruitment pool entering into high performance engineering employment.

Set up in 2005 the Learning Grid has received a total of £4 million from BIS and supporting RDAs up to July 2009. Currently there are no further plans to provide additional financial support to the Learning Grid.