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Travelling people: Computers

Volume 503: debated on Wednesday 6 January 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 29 October 2009, Official Report, column 615W, on travelling people: computers, (1) how many laptops given to Travellers have (a) been reported as lost or stolen and (b) not been recovered; and what steps are taken (i) to recover such laptops and (ii) in circumstances in which the laptops are not returned; (308795)

(2) whether parents are permitted to use the laptops loaned to their children.

Since the last answer on 29 October 2009, there have been no reports of laptops being lost or stolen or not recovered. All laptops are tagged by the local authority based Traveller Education Support Service who own them, so could be traced. Laptops are also insured against accidental damage or loss. The circumstances relating to a laptop not returned to the Service would be investigated and every effort would be made to recover it. Finally, to promote family learning, greater parental engagement in education and to improve parental literacy skills, parents are encouraged to use the laptops loaned to their children and are given training alongside their children in the safe and appropriate use of the internet.