§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school attendance orders she has made during the past 12 months; and if she will publish in the Official Report the name of the local education authority concerned in respect of each order made during this period.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonIn accordance with Section 37 of the Education Act 1944 school attendance orders are made by local education authorities and not by my right hon. Friend whose role is restricted to determining which school shall be named in an order when the local education authority is of the opinion that the school selected by the parent is unsuitable to the age, ability or aptitude of the child concerned or that the attendance of the child at that school would involve unreasonable expense to the authority. Local education authorities are not required to report to my Department how many school attendance orders they make, and in consequence I regret that the information requested is not readily available.