HC Deb 29 March 2004 vol 419 c1287W
Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been sentenced to prison for allowing their children to play truant in each of the last 12 months. [163334]

Paul Goggins

Information reported to the Home Office shows that just one person was sentenced to immediate custody in England and Wales for the offence of knowing that their child was not attending school and took no reasonable steps to secure their attendance during 2002, the latest year for which figures are available.

Statistics for 2003 will be published in the autumn.