'£250,000 for Tesco computer'

Parents have to spend about £250,000 on shopping before their child's school can benefit from a free computer offered in a supermarket promotion, according to a critical report published today.

A report in Which? magazine questions whether the Tesco's Computers for Schools scheme is value for money. Under the scheme, parents need to collect vouchers from nearly £250,000 of shopping to provide a computer that would cost £1,000 to buy. So far this year Tesco has provided 22,000 schools with 70,000 items, of which 4,000 are computers.

Tesco marketing director Tim Mason said: "The criticism is astonishing and flies in the face of the praise the scheme has received from the Prime Minister, the Education Secretary and thousands of parents and teachers.

"The scheme has been running 10 years and helped schools receive £70 million worth of equipment."

The magazine also says the Walkers/News International Books for Schools promotion, which offers vouchers in exchange for buying crisps or a News International newspaper, encourages children in unhealthy eating habits.