§ Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will ask local authorities to submit information on the trends in avoidable absence from school by children of compulsory school age.
§ Mrs. ThatcherThe Department has never collected statistics on this matter. I have no immediate intention of changing this practice.
§ Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations shi, has received on the problem of declining school attendance.
§ Mrs. ThatcherNone.
§ Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research has been made by or for her Department, since the publication of the Newsom Report, on the problem of truancy.
§ Mrs. ThatcherNone.