Home Access scheme won't be cut this year promises Government

The Home Access scheme to give laptops and internet access to families on low incomes will not be cut, for now, Computeractive has learned.

Despite the axing of Becta, the quango that promoted the scheme, the Department for Education (DfE) said the programme will continue for "this financial year". However applications for funds for this year will be wound up within weeks.

"The scheme has a set amount of funding and all this will be allocated by the end of June,” a spokesman for the DfE told us.

The Home Access helpline is still live and when we called it we were told that people could still apply for a grant. However if the funds have already been allocated, people applying for a grant this late in the day may be unsuccessful.

The scheme, which was launched officially in January this year, to provide internet access and computers to low income families, was expected to help over 270,000 people by March 2011.

However the continuation of the scheme into next year will now depend on the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review that will take place in the autumn.

We contacted Stone Computers, one of the approved suppliers for the scheme, and the company seemed hopeful.

Simon Pettit, contracts director for the company, told us that it sees the demise of Becta having little impact on the scheme.

“We understand that the Home Access scheme which Becta has been managing will not be affected. It has been proven that educational attainment is improved when children have access to technology at home, making the Home Access programme vital to many families.

“Education is a central and important part of society and, through Stone’s involvement with the programme, it is helping make sure that no section of the community is left wanting.

"Similarly, we understand that other Becta initiatives such as the ICT Services Framework will also continue. Therefore, we see little or no impact on Stone’s business moving forward,” he said.