§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many prosecutions for truancy were undertaken by local authorities in 1976; and how many families were not prosecuted even though their children were persistent offenders.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonStatistics concerning persistent truancy and prosecutions for non-attendance under Section 39 of the Education Act 1944 are not available. However, it seems likely that such prosecutions constituted a majority of the 3,777 prosecutions in magistrates' courts for all offences under the Education Acts in 1976
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what methods there are for monitoring the attendance of school students; and for how long truancy is allowed to continue before prosecution results.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonIt is for individual local education authorities to determine their own methods for monitoring school attendance and the circumstances in which they bring prosecutions under Section 39 of the Education Act 1944.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) at what percentage of attendance she advises local authorities to prosecute for truancy from schools;
(2) what action her Department advises local education authorities to take for persistent truancy from schools;
764W(3) what advice her Department gives to local education authorities regarding persistent truancy from schools.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy Department has not issued any guidance to local education authorities concerning truancy or prosecutions under Section 39 of the Education Act 1944. Her Majesty's Inspectorate has, however, been engaged during this year in two surveys of practice in the field: one has looked at a sample of secondary schools in difficult areas which have been notably successful in dealing with truancy and disruptive behaviour and the other has looked at the special units which most local education authorities now have for these pupils. When this work is complete, my right hon. Friend hopes to publish useful information based on its findings. A circular to be issued jointly by the DES, the DHSS and the Welsh Office on the rôle of the education welfare service, which the Departments see as having a vital part to play in tackling both truancy and some of the wider problems associated with it, is under consideration.
Under the Criminal Law Act 1977, the fine upon parents who fail to ensure their children's regular attendance has been increased to a maximum of £200.