Written question asked by Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 23 March 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 April 2000. It was answered by Lord Wills (Labour) on Monday, 10 April 2000 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what assessment he has made of the impact on the timetable for the connection of schools to the Internet of the Competition Commission's review of the proposed acquisition by NTL of Cable and Wireless Communications' cable interests. - Includes figures. (Holding answer 28 March 2000).

Answer: Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact on the timetable for the connection of schools to the Internet of the Competition Commission's review of the proposed acquisition by NTL of Cable and Wireless Communications' cable interests. [116644] Mr. Wills: [holding answer 28 March 2000]: The Competition Commission has concluded that the merger may be expected not to operate against the public interest. Choices about schools' connections to the Internet rest with schools themselves in the light of the telecommunications services and funding available to them, and advice from local education authorities and the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency. Good progress is being made in connecting schools to the Internet, with 93 per cent. of schools and 62 per cent. of primary schools connected as at March 1999.

Secondary information