§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on truancy in each of the local education authorities in Wales;
(2) what is his estimate of truancy as a percentage in the (a) fourth and (b) fifth years in high schools in (i) Clwyd, (ii) Powys, (iii) Gwynedd, (iv) Mid Glamorgan, (v) South Glamorgan, (vi) West Glamorgan, (vii) Gwent; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what measures he proposes to lessen truancy concerning the schools of Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsInformation on truancy levels is not held centrally. The committee of inquiry into discipline in schools in England and Wales made several recommendations aimed at improving attendance rates. Arising from this the Welsh education support grant programme for 1990–91 makes provision for payment of grant to LEAs for schemes to improve attendance at schools.
The remit of LEA education welfare officers includes responsibility for following up cases of unjustified absence.