HC Deb 06 July 1976 vol 914 c463W
20. Mr. Charles Irving

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the meeting he held on 21st June with teachers and welfare officers to discuss truancy.

40. Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with teachers and welfare organisations on the question of violence and truancy.

Mis Margaret Jackson

My right hon. Friend and I were grateful for this opportunity to discuss the problems of disruptive behaviour and absence from school with representatives of the local authority and teacher associations and other educational bodies concerned. There was general acceptance at the meeting that the responsibility for tackling these problems must rest ultimately with individual teachers, schools and local authorities. But it was also felt that the dissemination of examples of good practice would be helpful both in tackling problems in the schools and in improving links with the social services and other bodies.