§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the latest available statistics of children who have been convicted of truancy from school; and whether he will publish in categories the punishment accorded them.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganTruancy is not a criminal offence on the part of the child but it can be dealt with by an order under the Education Act, 1944. In 1968 the juvenile courts made orders as follows:
Boys Girls Total Approved school order 58 31 89 Fit person order 261 188 449 Supervision orders 889 807 1,696 Orders binding over parents. No breakdown available 27 No statistics are available of cases in which the court made no order.