§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give figures showing the number of pupils improperly absent in their final term of their final year in secondary schools.
§ Dr. BoysonThis information is not collected by my Department.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will undertake a study of the extent to which absenteeism in schools might be reduced if pupils who were to go to an apprenticeship or permanent job were allowed to leave during the term in which they became 16 years of age.
§ Dr. BoysonI am not convinced that a national study on these lines would be useful. Responsibility for action to combat absenteeism lies at the local level, and it is there that solutions to particular problems should be sought.