§ 46. Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the levels of truancy in inner cities.
§ 60. Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the percentage rate of truancy amongst 15-year-old pupils on the most recent date for which figures are available; what was the comparable figure for five years previously; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe information requested is not available. However, research and local surveys show some deterioration in the attendance of 14 and 15-year-olds, in inner city schools and elsewhere. It is clear that unjustified absence occurs too often in some schools and that valuable educational opportunities are being missed. In February 1986 my right hon. Friend issued guidance to local education authorities on how to use their education welfare services to tackle more effectively non-attendance at school. In addition, the Government are taking major initiatives to improve the quality of teaching, the school curriculum and examinations, all of which should beneficially affect school attendance.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many education authorities responded by 31 May to the request in his circular on school attendance and educational welfare services issued on 10 February, that a review be undertaken of their educational welfare structure and organisation; whether he was satisfied with the nature of the responses; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldForty-five responses were received by 31 May. Replies are still outstanding from seven authorities. The responses are currently being analysed.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many educational welfare officers were employed by education authorities in England and Wales on the most recent date for which figures are available; what were comparable figures two and five years previously; and if he will provide separate figures on this basis for the Essex county council.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Department has not collected such information in the past in relation to local education authorities in England, but it will be available when the responses to circular 2/86 on "School Attendance and Education Welfare Services" have been analysed. The figure for the Essex county council is 77. Information about Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what was the statistical basis for his statement in his circular of 10 February regarding school attendance rates in general and attendance rates for pupils in the 14–16 year age group; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will take steps to require local education authorities to make periodic returns of school attendance rates in the various age ranges to his Department; and if he will make a statement;
562W(3) what information he has received from local education authorities and Her Majesty's inspectorate about changes in the patterns of school attendance over the past two years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldAlthough the Department does not collect national statistics on attendance, it has received information from a small number of local education authorities. The statement in question was based on this information supplemented by reports by Her Majesty's inspectorate and independent surveys. There are widely differing views on what constitutes unjustified absence and difficulties in applying any such definition in individual cases. Before embarking on the collection of national statistics we should need to be satisfied that the problems of definition could be overcome and that the value of such statistics, justified the cost of collection.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing the number of prosecutions which have been initiated by local education authorities in respect of non-attendance at school under the Education Act in each year of the most recent five-year period for which figures are available; and if he will publish a separate table showing the number of supervision orders initiated by education authorities in co-operation with social services departments under the Children and Young Persons Act for the same offence in each of these years.
§ Mrs. RumboldNumbers of prosecutions in England and Wales under the Education Acts in the years 1981 to 1985, the most recent five years for which figures are available, are as follows. It is not possible to distinguish between different offences under the Acts, but most are believed to relate to failure to attend school regularly.
Prosecutions under Education Acts 1981 3,287 1982 3,214 1983 2,757 1984 2,970 1985 3,158 Statistics of supervision orders on grounds of failure to attend school regularly do not distinguish between those initiated by local education authorities and by other agencies. The total numbers of such orders made in the same five-year period are as follows:
Supervision orders related to School Attendance 1981 427 1982 551 1983 456 1984 361 1985 445
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what decision he has made on the recommendation of the interdepartmental working party, published in October 1985, on the use of child care law in relation to non-attendance of pupils at school; and if he will make a statement.
563W
§ Mrs. RumboldAs announced on 1 May, at column 472, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, proposals will be published shortly as the basis for legislation.