HC Deb 03 June 1974 vol 874 cc379-80W
Mr. Tierney

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if there is any evidence of increased truancy from schools in the Birmingham metropolitan area since the raising of the school leaving age of 16 years.

Mr. Armstrong

This information is not available, but the Department's present investigations into truancy include a statistical return from authorities relating to absence and unjustified absence

Graduates Non-Graduates
Men Women Total Men Women Total
15th May 1974 6,753 7,036 13,789 10,681 31,893 42,574
16th May 1973 8,797 7,840 16,637 13,899 34,923 48,822
17th May 1972 9,533 8,077 17,610 15,404 35,919 51,323
19th May 1971 6,858 6,758 13,616 12,830 34,345 47,175
20th May 1970 5,390 5,857 11,247 13,177 34,467 47,644
21st May 1969 5,309 5,180 10,489 14,736 36,623 51,359

in secondary and middle schools on a day in January this year.