"In his Manchester conference speech, Gordon Brown unveiled funding of £300 million for new proposals under which low-income families will recieve vouchers worth up to £700 to get them connected to the Internet"

[JoolsToo]

this is from my monthly newsletter from my ISP, I hadn't heard anything about it on the news.

What do we think?
I'm wondering where the money is coming from. This country is in SO MUCH debt can we really afford to do this. Are computers THAT necessary?

BROWN BROADBAND
In his Manchester conference speech, Gordon Brown unveiled funding of £300
million for new proposals under which low-income families will receive vouchers
worth up to £700 to get them connected to the Internet. The means-tested
vouchers will be worth up to £700 and can be used to pay for broadband charges,
software, technical support, or even computers where necessary. ?It is now
clear that pupils without Internet access are at a disadvantage to their peers.
Home access is increasingly becoming an essential part of a good education and
having a computer with Internet access should be seen as equally essential as
having a school bag, a uniform or a pen and paper,? explained Jim Knight, the
minister of state for schools and learners. Earlier this year, the government
laid out a three-year, £30 million plan to deliver Internet connections to
students in disadvantaged families and £60 million for a two-year Computers for
Pupils scheme, which targeted 1,000 schools in England?s most deprived areas.
That money had already been spent, according to a spokesperson from the
department of children, schools and families.

apologies for my misspelling of receive

"up to £700"

WTF?

I would never dream of spending up to £700 to get connected to the internet, even if I had the money. You can get old PCs v. cheaply, even new, decent ones don't cost half that.

Basic computer skills should be taught at school, and it seems that they are.

Nobody should need to use the internet to do their homework.

With the way electricity bills are rising, low income families may not be able to afford to pay to use them!!